JEE Main 2024 — D And F Block Elements Question with Solution

Let us analyze both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) to determine the correct answer.

Assertion (A): In aqueous solutions, ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{2+}$ is reducing while ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ is oxidising in nature. This assertion is true. The ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{2+}$ ion has a tendency to be oxidized to ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ because ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ has a more stable electronic configuration. Therefore, ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{2+}$ acts as a reducing agent. On the other hand, ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ tends to stabilize by being reduced to ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$, which is a more stable electronic configuration due to having a half-filled d5 subshell (${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$: [Ar] 3d⁵). Thus, ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ acts as an oxidizing agent.

Reason (R): Extra stability to half filled electronic configuration is observed than incompletely filled electronic configuration. This reason is also true. Half-filled and fully filled electron configurations, like those found in ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ and ${\mathrm{Cr}}^0$ respectively, are particularly stable due to symmetry and exchange energy considerations. This is a reason why certain ions like ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ want to be reduced to ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$, and why ${\mathrm{Cr}}^0$ (with a [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹ configuration) is not as common as ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ (which has a [Ar] 3d³ configuration, and while not half-filled, is favored due to crystal field stabilization energy considerations in octahedral complexes).

If we evaluate these statements together, we see that Assertion (A) is directly related to the electronic configurations and their stability, as asserted by Reason (R). The stability of half-filled and full orbitals contributes to the observed redox behavior of ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{2+}$ and ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{3+}$ in aqueous solutions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).