Question

Consider the following dioxide of group 14

$1.$ $CO_{2}$

$2.$ $SiO_{2}$

$3.$ $GeO_{2}$

$4.$ $SnO_{2}$

$5.$ $PbO_{2}$

The basicity of the dioxide alters in the order

• A. $CO_{2}>SiO_{2}>GeO_{2}>SnO_{2}>PbO_{2}$
• B. $CO_{2} < SiO_{2} < GeO_{2} < SnO_{2} < PbO_{2}$
• C. $CO_{2} < SiO_{2} < GeO_{2} < PbO_{2} < SnO_{2}$
• D. $CO_{2} < SiO_{2} < SnO_{2} < PbO_{2} < GeO_{2}$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The basicity of the dioxide alters in the order

$CO_{2} < SiO_{2} < GeO_{2} < SnO_{2} < PbO_{2}$

The basicity increases on moving down the group. Thus, $CO_{2}$ and $SiO_{2}$ are purely acidic. $GeO_{2}$ is not as strongly acidic as $SiO_{2}$ . It is weakly acidic and weakly basic. $SnO_{2}$ and $PbO_{2}$ are definitely amphoteric.