JEE Main · 2026 · 22 Jan 2026 · Shift 1 · p-Block Elements

The hydrogen-halogen bond length increases down the group as $\mathrm{HF}<\mathrm{HCl}<\mathrm{HBr}<\mathrm{HI}$, so the longest bond, that in HI, is made with iodine, the halogen of largest covalent radius, not the smallest; Statement I is false. Among the group 15 hydrides the boiling points run $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{H}}_3<\mathrm{As}{\mathrm{H}}_3<\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_3<\mathrm{Sb}{\mathrm{H}}_3<\mathrm{Bi}{\mathrm{H}}_3$, so $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{H}}_3$ has the lowest boiling point; but phosphorus can expand its valence shell to a maximum covalency of six, as in $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{F}}_6^{-}$, not four, so Statement II is also false. Both statements are false.