Answer the question on basis of passage given below:
The noble gases have closed shell electronic configuration and are monatomic gases under normal conditions. The low boiling points of lighter noble gases are due to the weak dispersion forces between the atoms and the absence of other inter atomic interaction. The direct reaction of xenon with fluorine leads to a series of compounds with oxidation numbers +2, +4 and +6.
\(XeF_4\) reacts violently with water to give \(XeO_3\). The geometries of the compounds of xenon can be deduced considering the total number of electrons in the valence shell.
Match List-I with List-II
| List-I | List-II |
| (A) Its partial hydrolysis does not change the oxidation state of the central atom | (I) \(He\) |
| (B) It is used in modern diving apparatus | (II) \(XeF_6\) |
| (C) It is used to provide inert atmosphere for filling electrical bulbs | (III) \(XeF_4\) |
| (D) Its central atom is in \(sp^3d^2\) hybridization state | (IV) \(Ar\) |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(IV), (D)-(III)
The noble gases are used wherever a light or inert gas is needed, and xenon forms fluorides whose shapes follow from the number of electron pairs on Xe (VSEPR theory). Each List-I item is one such fact.
(A) Its partial hydrolysis does not change the oxidation state of the central atom — This matches (II) \( \ce{XeF6} \). Partial hydrolysis of \( \ce{XeF6} \) gives the oxyfluorides \( \ce{XeOF4} \) and \( \ce{XeO2F2} \). Xenon is +6 in all three: in \( \ce{XeOF4} \), x + (−2) + 4(−1) = 0 gives x = +6; in \( \ce{XeO2F2} \), x + 2(−2) + 2(−1) = 0 gives x = +6. So the reaction is not a redox reaction.
\( \ce{XeF6 + H2O -> XeOF4 + 2HF} \)
\( \ce{XeF6 + 2H2O -> XeO2F2 + 4HF} \)(B) It is used in modern diving apparatus — This matches (I) \( \ce{He} \). Helium is used as a diluent for oxygen in diving apparatus because of its very low solubility in blood.
(C) It is used to provide inert atmosphere for filling electrical bulbs — This matches (IV) \( \ce{Ar} \). Argon does not react with the hot filament, so it is used for filling electric bulbs and as an inert atmosphere in high-temperature processes such as arc welding.
(D) Its central atom is in \( sp^3d^2 \) hybridization state — This matches (III) \( \ce{XeF4} \). Xe has 8 valence electrons: four form four Xe–F bonds and four stay as two lone pairs. Four bond pairs + two lone pairs = six electron pairs, so Xe is sp3d2 hybridised; the two lone pairs sit opposite each other and the molecule is square planar.
Shortcut: (B)-(I) appears only in Option (1).
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic is not there in the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it is also out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Xenon-oxygen Compounds
Uses
Xenon-fluorine Compounds – …
