Question

For the following question there is an "assertion" and a "Reason".

Assertion: XeO₃ explosively decomposes into Xenon and Oxygen above room temperature.
Reason: It is a powerful oxidizing agent

Which one of the following options is most accurate?

• A. Both the assertion and the reason are correct and the reason correctly explains the Assertion.
• B. Both the assertion and the reason are correct but the reason does not correctly explain the Assertion
• C. The assertion is correct and the reason is wrong.
• D. Both the assertion and the reason are wrong.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Both the assertion and the reason are correct but the reason does not correctly explain the Assertion

The assertion is in fact, a very accurate statement.
$2Xe{O}_3\left(s\right)\to 2Xe\left(g\right)+3O_2\left(g\right)$
Just releasing oxygen does not an “oxidizing agent” make. That is just a cryptic way of saying – releasing oxygen is not the only criterion for an oxidizing agent. This explosive reaction could serious cause harm if $Xe{O}_3$ is not handled with enough care. The Xenon (VI) oxide is a very strong oxidizing agent under suitable conditions. For instance, $Xe{O}_3$ dissolves in alkaline solutions to form xenates $HXe{O}_4^{-}$, which disproportionate as

$2HXe{O}_4^{-}\left(aq\right)+2O{H}^{-}\to Xe{O}_6^{4-}\left(aq\right)+O_2\left(g\right)+2H_{2}O\left(l\right)$

The ion perxenate is among one of the strongest oxidizing agents known. It has the central Xenon atom surrounded by 6 Oxygen atoms in an octahedral arrangement. The Xe atom in $Xe{O}_6^{4-}$ has a formal oxidation state of +8.
Treating Barium perxenate with concentrated $H_{2}S{O}_4$ produces $Xe{O}_4$. Xenon tetraoxide has the following shape: