The inert pair effect is the tendency of the outermost s electrons to remain unionized or unshared in compounds of post-transition metals. The term inert pair effect is often used in relation to the increasing stability of oxidation states that are 2 less than the group valency for the heavier elements of groups 13, 14, 15 and 16. The term "inert pair" was first proposed by Nevil Sidgwick in 1927.
Read more about Inert Pair Effect: Description, Steric Activity of The Lone Pair, Failure of The Theory
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