A: Lithium is the strongest reducing agent in the periodic table.
R: Fluorine is the strongest oxidising agent in the periodic table.

Options

A. If both Assertion & Reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (1)
B. If both Assertion & Reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (2)
C. If Assertion is true statement but Reason is false, then mark (3)
D. If both Assertion and Reason are false statements then mark (4)

Answer

To analyze the statements provided in the question, we will break down the reasoning behind each statement step by step.

### Step 1: Understanding Lithium as a Reducing Agent
- **Statement A**: Lithium is the strongest reducing agent in the periodic table.
- **Explanation**: A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons in a chemical reaction and gets oxidized in the process. Lithium, being an alkali metal, has a low ionization energy, which means it can easily lose its outermost electron to form a Li⁺ ion. The small size of the lithium ion (Li⁺) contributes to a high hydration energy when it is solvated in water, which makes the process of losing an electron energetically favorable. Therefore, lithium is indeed a strong reducing agent.

### Step 2: Understanding Fluorine as an Oxidizing Agent
- **Statement R**: Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent in the periodic table.
- **Explanation**: An oxidizing agent is a substance that gains electrons in a chemical reaction and gets reduced in the process. Fluorine has a very high electronegativity and a strong tendency to gain an electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration. The small size of the fluoride ion (F⁻) also leads to a high hydration energy when it is solvated, which compensates for its relatively low electron gain enthalpy compared to other halogens. This makes fluorine the strongest oxidizing agent.

### Step 3: Conclusion
- Both statements are true because:
- Lithium's ability to easily lose an electron and the high hydration energy make it a strong reducing agent.
- Fluorine's high electronegativity and the high hydration energy of the fluoride ion make it a strong oxidizing agent.

### Final Answer
Both statements A and R are correct: Lithium is the strongest reducing agent in the periodic table, and Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent in the periodic table.

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