Consider the following statements regarding Group 15 elements: (A) The stability of hydrides decreases from NH ₃ to BiH ₃ . (B) The reducing character of hydrides decreases from NH ₃ to BiH ₃ . (C) All elements of Group 15 form E ₂ O ₅ type oxides except nitrogen because it lacks d-orbitals. (D) The acidic character of E ₂ O ₃ oxides decreases down the group. How many of the above statements are correct?

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is correct: The stability of hydrides decreases down the group from NH ₃ to BiH ₃ because the E-H bond dissociation enthalpy decreases as atomic size increases. Statement (B) is incorrect: The reducing character of hydrides increases down the group. Ammonia is a mild reducing agent while BiH ₃ is the strongest reducing agent among them. Statement (C) is incorrect: Nitrogen does form N ₂ O ₅ despite lacking d-orbitals. It achieves a +5 oxidation state while maintaining a maximum covalency of 4 by formi