Which one of the following hydride is the weakest reducing agent
Down the group as the size of the atom increases affinity of hydrogen towards central atom decreases. Therefore
a) X-H bond enthalpy decreases
b) Thermal stability decreases
c) Reducing power increases
d) acidic strength (Ka) increases
e) pKa decreases
Down the group as vanderwaal's forces increases
Melting and boiling points increases
Expected BP and MP….HF<HCl<HBr<HI
Due to H-bonding in HF, it has higher BP and MP than expected.
BP trend…...HCl<HBr<HI<HF
MP trend….HCl<HBr<HF<HI