Question

Assertion :Fluorine is a weaker oxidising agent than chlorine Reason: fluorine atoms are larger than chlorine atoms.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Fluorine is too strong an oxidizing agent. Fluorine oxidizes water to oxygen and so it is impossible to do simple solution reactions with it.

$2F_2+2H_{2}O⟶4HF+O_2$

This is because when halogens oxidize something, they form halide i.e,

$F_2\left(g\right)+2e^{-}⟶2F^{-}\left(aq\right)$

$C{l}_2\left(g\right)+2e^{-}⟶2C{l}^{-}\left(aq\right)$

$B{r}_2\left(l\right)+2e^{-}⟶2B{r}^{-}\left(aq\right)$

$I_2\left(s\right)+2e^{-}⟶2I^{-}\left(aq\right)$

The formation of the hydrated ions happen much more easily at the top of the group.

As we go down the group, the case with which these hydrated ions are formed falls and so the halogens become less good as oxidising agents$-$less ready to take electrons from something else.