Question

Assertion : Fluorine ${\mathrm{F}}_2$ is a stronger oxidising agent than Chlorine ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2$.

Reason : Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine.

• A. Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
• B. Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
• C. Assertion is true but reason is false
• D. Both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion

Explanation for Correct option

Assertion:-

• Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine.
• Due to this, fluorine attracts the shared pair of electrons more easily and strongly than chlorine.
• As a result fluorine easily accepts the electron pair as compared to chlorine and hence undergoes reduction, and oxidizes the other donor atoms.
• This is why Fluorine is a stronger oxidising agent than chlorine.
• Thus the assertion is true.

Explanation for reason:-

• Electronegativity is the tendency of an element to attract the bonded electrons towards itself.
• We know that as we go down the group the electronegativity decreases due to the increase in atomic radius.
• The more the electrons are closer to the nucleus, the greater will the nuclear pull they face.
• As the atomic radius increases, the electrons move further away from the nucleus which decreases the nuclear pull.
• Since Flourine is smaller than Chlorine, the electrons experience a greater nuclear pull than in Chlorine.
• This is why Fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine.
• This is the same reason why Fluorine is a stronger oxidising agent than chlorine.
• Thus the reason is true and is also the correct explanation for the assertion.

Therefore, option (A) both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion is the correct answer.