Consider the following statements regarding the hydrides of Group 17 elements: (a) The acidic strength increases in the order HF (b) The reducing character increases from HF to HI . (c) The trends in both acidic strength and reducing character are primarily due to the decrease in H-X bond dissociation enthalpy down the group. (d) HF is the strongest reducing agent among the hydrogen halides due to the high electroneg

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Statement (a) is correct: Acidic strength of Group 17 hydrides increases down the group ( HF Statement (b) is correct: The reducing character depends on the ease of releasing hydrogen, which increases down the group from HF to HI . Statement (c) is correct: As atomic size increases down the group, the H-X bond length increases and the bond dissociation enthalpy decreases. This weaker bond is the primary reason for both the increasing acidic strength and the increasing reducing character. Statement (d) is incorrect: