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Discussion Response Post to: what is inert pair effect?

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Priyesh (1601)

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The reason for this effect in covalent bond formation is that for heavier elements promotion of electron from s orbital to p orbital is more than the energy released during bond formation rendering the promotion of s - electron unstable

that is why in lead +2 state is more stable than +4 because it does not promote it's s-electrons to p orbital.

for ionic bonds explanation is given that for the heavier elements like lead, there is what is known as a relativistic contraction of the electrons which tends to draw the electrons closer to the nucleus than you would expect. Because they are closer to the nucleus, they are more difficult to remove. The heavier the element, the greater this effect & this affects s electrons much more than p electrons.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

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