Question

Which of the following species is not stable?

(1)  [SiF₆]^2– 

(2)  [GeCl₆]^2– 

(3)  [Sn(OH)₆]^2– 

(4)  [SiCl₆]^2–

Answer 1

Correct option  (4) [SiCl₆]^2– 

Explanation:

•  Due to presence of d-orbital in Si, Ge and Sn they form species like SiF₆^2–, [GeCl₆]^2–, [Sn(OH)₆]^2–

•  SiCl₆^2– does not exist because six large chloride ions cannot be accommodated around Si⁴⁺ due to limitation of its size.