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Question

Arrange the hydrides of group 16 in the decreasing order of their thermal stability. Is the order same or different for their reducing character?

Prabhat Rajore · Accepted Answer

The stability of hydrides decreases moving down the group this is because of the decrease in the bond dissociation enthalpy of hydrides on moving down the group.

H₂O>H₂S>H₂Se>H₂Te>H₂Po

Reducing Character:
All hydrides of group 16 elements, except H₂O, are reducing agent.
The reducing power of these hydrides increase in going form H₂S to H₂Te, which may be due to increase in the size of the atom and hence decrease in the M-H bond energy.