vii. The stability of dihalides of ` Si, Ge , Sn` and Pb increases steadily in the sequence :

Options

A. `PbX_(2) lt lt SnX_(2) lt lt GeX_(2) lt lt SiX_(2)`
B. `GeX_(2) lt lt SiX_(2) lt lt SnX_(2) lt lt PbX_(2)`
C. `SiX_(2) lt lt GeX_(2) lt lt PbX_(2) lt lt SnX_(2)`
D. `SiX_(2) lt lt GeX_(2) lt lt SnX_(2) lt lt PbX_(2)`

Answer

D

Explanation

Due to the inert pair effect (the reluctance of `ns^(2)` electrons of outermost shell to participate in bonding) the stability of `M^(3+)` ions (of group 14 elements ) increases as we down the group.