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 compound of Xenon exhibit stereoisomerism and their geometries can be deduced considering the total number of electrons in the valence shell.

\(XeF_4\) and \(XeF\), are expected to be :

Oxidising agent

The correct answer is option 1. Oxidising agent.

To determine the expected properties of \(XeF_4\) (xenon tetrafluoride) and \(XeF\) (xenon monofluoride), let's consider their oxidation states and reactivity.

In \(XeF_4\), xenon is in the +4 oxidation state, while in \(XeF\), xenon is in the +2 oxidation state.

1. Oxidizing agent: An oxidizing agent is a substance that can accept electrons or oxidize other substances by causing them to lose electrons. Compounds with higher oxidation states tend to be good oxidizing agents because they have a greater ability to accept electrons. In this case, \(XeF_4\) has xenon in the higher +4 oxidation state compared to \(XeF\) with xenon in the +2 oxidation state. Therefore, \(XeF_4\) is more likely to act as an oxidizing agent compared to \(XeF\).

2. Reducing agent: A reducing agent is a substance that can donate electrons or reduce other substances by causing them to gain electrons. Compounds with lower oxidation states tend to be good reducing agents because they have a greater ability to donate electrons. In this case, \(XeF\) has xenon in the lower +2 oxidation state, suggesting that it might act as a reducing agent.

3. Unreactive in nature: While noble gas compounds like xenon fluorides are often less reactive compared to other compounds, they can still participate in chemical reactions. However, they are not typically considered unreactive.

4. Strongly basic in nature: Xenon fluorides are not basic compounds; instead, they tend to exhibit acidic properties due to the presence of fluorine atoms. Therefore, they are not expected to be strongly basic in nature.

Based on the above analysis, the most suitable option is: (1) Oxidising agent