What was the 2010 JEE Advanced matrix-match on hydrolysis of p-block halides?
The 2010 JEE Advanced matrix-match placed four inorganic halides in Column I: dimethyl dichlorosilane, xenon tetrafluoride, chlorine gas, vanadium pentachloride. Column II listed five outcomes: hydrogen halide formation, redox reaction, reaction with glass, polymerisation, oxygen gas formation. Each entry in Column I may match more than one outcome, and the correct code must capture all that apply for every compound.
This forces a check of every product, every oxidation-state change, and secondary reactions such as HF etching glass.
What is the official step-by-step solution for the 2010 JEE Advanced p-block halides matrix-match?
For (CH₃)₂SiCl₂ hydrolysis produces the silanediol plus HCl.
This matches hydrogen halide formation (p). The silanediol then condenses.
This produces the silicone polymer and matches polymerisation (s). Therefore A matches p and s.
For XeF₄ the balanced equation is:
HF formation matches (p). Xenon starts at oxidation state +4 and ends at 0 in Xe and +6 in XeO₃, confirming redox (q). The HF attacks silica in glass:
This matches reaction with glass (r). Direct O₂ formation matches (t). Thus B matches p, q, r, t.
Cl₂ reacts as:
HCl matches (p). Chlorine moves from oxidation state 0 in Cl₂ to –1 in HCl and +1 in HOCl, proving disproportionation and redox (q). So C matches p and q.
VCl₅ hydrolyses as:
Vanadium remains +5 on both sides, so no redox. Only HCl forms, and D matches p alone.
Final codes: A → p,s; B → p,q,r,t; C → p,q; D → p.
What method mistake produces one wrong option in the 2010 JEE Advanced matrix-match?
Students write the first hydrolysis equation for XeF₄, note the HF, and stop. They omit the secondary reaction of HF with silica in glass and lose the reaction with glass match for XeF₄. Others stop after the primary equation for Cl₂ or XeF₄ without calculating oxidation states on every final product and miss the disproportionation evidence for the redox match.
The flaw is treating the first balanced line as complete instead of listing every species and testing each against Column II. The corrective method is to list every product, calculate oxidation number for every element that changes, and ask whether any product reacts further with laboratory glassware.
What core concepts from p-block elements does the 2010 JEE Advanced matrix-match test?
Hydrogen halide is almost always formed when M–Cl or M–F bonds hydrolyse. This alone gives match p for every compound here.
Redox identification requires an oxidation-state change of at least one element between reactant and all products. Xe moves from +4 to 0 and +6; Cl moves from 0 to –1 and +1. Vanadium in the +5 state in VCl₅ remains +5 in VOCl₃, so no redox match.
Silicon diols condense readily to –Si–O–Si– chains, releasing water and producing the polymerisation match. These patterns let you list every applicable option for any p-block halide hydrolysis question and write the matching code without missing redox or secondary effects.
What practice questions test the same hydrolysis and redox logic as the 2010 JEE Advanced matrix-match?
Question 1: Match SF₄ and PF₅ hydrolysis outcomes with options including HF formation, redox, and oxide formation. It tests the HF-glass reaction and oxidation-state checklist.
Question 2: Predict matches for I₂ + H₂O and PCl₃ + H₂O with the same column II list. It tests disproportionation of iodine and non-redox behaviour of phosphorus.
Question 3: Give XeF₆ hydrolysis products and ask whether it etches glass or liberates oxygen. It probes secondary reactions and O₂ evolution.
Solve these on paper using the checklist. Full solutions are omitted to encourage active recall.
How do you approach matrix-match questions on p-block halide hydrolysis?
Write the primary hydrolysis equation for each species in Column I. Identify every product and check for (a) HX, (b) change in oxidation number of central atom, (c) polymerisation tendency, (d) O₂ evolution, (e) HF attacking glass. Cross-verify with the exact official reaction given in the solution above before finalising the code.
Follow this order and you will capture every match inside the 180 seconds expected for such a question. Search the past-paper archive for every JEE Advanced paper from 2007 to 2015 by chapter to find more matrix-match practice, each with a worked solution.
If a fresh doubt appears while revising, photograph the question for a step-by-step solution with the required diagram.
Next step: photograph a doubt on JEEnius and photograph any question you are stuck on and get a step-by-step solution, with a free-body diagram when the question needs one (20 free).
If that step was the hard part, work through Matrices and Determinants JEE 2022: HP Consistency Match List.
Frequently asked questions
What is the solution for the 2010 JEE Advanced p-block matrix match?
The correct codes are A → p,s; B → p,q,r,t; C → p,q; D → p. (CH₃)₂SiCl₂ gives HCl and polymerises. XeF₄ gives HF, O₂, undergoes redox and etches glass. Cl₂ disproportionates. VCl₅ only gives HCl with no redox.
Does XeF4 hydrolysis involve redox and glass reaction in JEE 2010?
Yes. XeF₄ hydrolysis produces HF, Xe, XeO₃ and O₂. Xenon changes from +4 to 0 and +6, confirming redox. The HF formed reacts with silica in glass to give SiF₄, so it matches both options.
Is VCl5 hydrolysis a redox reaction in p-block elements JEE 2010?
No. Vanadium stays in +5 oxidation state on both sides of the equation VCl₅ + H₂O → VOCl₃ + 2HCl. It only matches hydrogen halide formation. Students must check oxidation numbers of every product.
What are common mistakes in 2010 JEE p-block elements matrix match?
Many stop after the first hydrolysis equation for XeF₄ and miss that HF etches glass. Others forget to verify oxidation state changes in all products for Cl₂ and XeF₄, losing the redox match. Always list every species and test against all Column II options.
How to solve matrix match on p-block halide hydrolysis for JEE?
Write the primary hydrolysis equation. List every product. Check for HX formation, oxidation number change, polymerisation from diols, O₂ evolution and HF attacking glass. Verify with official equations before assigning the code.