Chemistry - Complete Pblock- Question with Solution | TestHub

The group IV elements show tetravalency due to shifting of one electrons of $ns$ to the vacant $np$ orbital. These four orbitals give rise to four $s{p}^3$ hybrid orbitals. However, $\mathrm{Ge},\mathrm{Sn}$ and $\mathrm{Pb}$, have a tendency to form divalent as well as tetravalent ions. As the inert pair effect increases from $\mathrm{Ge}$ to $\mathrm{Pb}$, the stability of tetravalent ion decreases and that of divalent ion increases. Thus, ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{++}$is more stable than ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{4+}$ and ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{4+}$ ions is more stable than ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{2+}$.