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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3pt176

Which statement about the pentahalides of group 15 is correct?

  1. A, , and are all stable at room temperature
  2. B is known, while is not, because the Bi(V) state is destabilised by the inert pair effect and only fluorine can stabilise it
  3. C is not known because fluorine is too small
  4. DAll pentahalides of bismuth exist, as bismuth has five valence electrons

Answer: B

The inert pair effect makes Bi(V) strongly oxidising. Chlorine can be oxidised by it, so does not exist, but the highly electronegative and difficult-to-oxidise fluorine stabilises . Moreover is only stable at very low temperature, so the first option fails.
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