The stability of dihalides of Si, Ge, Sn and Pb increases steadily in the sequence

Options

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

Answer

A

Explanation

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