Given below are two statements: Statement I: SbCl5 is more covalent than SbCl3. Statement II: The higher oxides of…

🧠 Evaluate each statement using Fajans' rules (higher oxidation state → more covalent) and stability trends of higher oxides.

🗺️ Statement I — $\mathrm{SbCl_5}$ is more covalent than $\mathrm{SbCl_3}$:

• In $\mathrm{SbCl_5}$: Sb is in +5 oxidation state; in $\mathrm{SbCl_3}$: Sb is in +3 state.
• Higher charge on Sb in $\mathrm{SbCl_5}$ → greater polarizing power → more covalent character.
• Statement I is CORRECT ✓

Statement II — Higher oxides of halogens tend to be more stable than lower oxides:

• This is FALSE. Higher oxides of halogens (e.g., $\mathrm{Cl_2O_7}$ vs $\mathrm{Cl_2O}$) are less stable because higher oxidation states (+7 for Cl) are harder to maintain.
• The trend is: higher oxidation state compounds of halogens are thermodynamically less stable.
• Statement II is INCORRECT ✗

$\boxed{\text{Answer: Statement I correct, Statement II incorrect}}$