Which of the following oxidation states are the most characteristics for lead and tin respectively?

Step-by-step solution

The group IV elements show tetravalency due to shifting of one electrons of n s to the vacant n p orbital. These four orbitals give rise to four s p^3 hybrid orbitals. However, Ge , Sn and Pb , have a tendency to form divalent as well as tetravalent ions. As the inert pair effect increases from Ge to Pb , the stability of tetravalent ion decreases and that of divalent ion increases. Thus, Pb ⁺⁺ is more stable than Pb ⁴⁺ and Sn ⁴⁺ ions is more stable than Sn ²⁺ .