Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Fluorine is a stronger oxidising agent than chlorine despite having a less negative electron gain enthalpy. Reason (R): Fluorine does not exhibit any positive oxidation state in its compounds. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true: Fluorine is the strongest oxidising agent among halogens. Its standard reduction potential is the highest, making it a stronger oxidising agent than chlorine, even though its electron gain enthalpy is less negative than that of chlorine. Reason (R) is true: Fluorine is the most electronegative element and lacks vacant d-orbitals in its valence shell, so it exhibits only a -1 oxidation state and never a positive oxidation state. However, Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A). The correct e