The correct statements from the following are : (A) The decreasing order of atomic radii of group 13 elements is $$Tl > In > Ga > Al > B$$. (B) Down the group 13 electronegativity decreases from top to bottom. (C) Al dissolves in dil. HCl and liberates $$H_2$$ but conc. $$HNO_3$$ renders Al passive by forming a protective oxide layer on the surface. (D) All elements of group 13 exhibits highly stable +1 oxidation state. (E) Hybridisation of Al in $$[Al(H_2O)_6]^{3+}$$ ion is $$sp^3d^2$$. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

We need to evaluate each statement about Group 13 elements.

Statement (A) claims that the decreasing order of atomic radii is $$Tl > In > Ga > Al > B$$, but the actual order in Group 13 is $$Tl > In > Al > Ga > B$$. Due to the d-block contraction, Ga has a smaller atomic radius than Al, so statement (A) is incorrect.

Statement (B) asserts that electronegativity decreases down Group 13, but the trend is not monotonically decreasing because of poor shielding effects. Although B has the highest electronegativity, the values do not uniformly decrease from top to bottom, hence statement (B) is incorrect.

Statement (C) states that Al dissolves in dilute HCl to liberate $$H_2$$ but concentrated $$HNO_3$$ renders Al passive by forming a protective oxide layer. Indeed, aluminum reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid according to the equation $$2Al + 6HCl \rightarrow 2AlCl_3 + 3H_2 \uparrow$$, and concentrated nitric acid creates a thin $$Al_2O_3$$ layer that passivates the metal. Therefore statement (C) is correct.

Statement (D) claims that all elements of Group 13 exhibit a highly stable +1 oxidation state. In reality, B and Al do not show a stable +1 oxidation state and the +1 state only becomes more stable down the group due to the inert pair effect. Thus statement (D) is incorrect.

Statement (E) proposes that the hybridisation of Al in $$[Al(H_2O)_6]^{3+}$$ is $$sp^3d^2$$. In this hexaaqua complex, $$Al^{3+}$$ is octahedrally coordinated by six water molecules, which corresponds to $$sp^3d^2$$ hybridisation. Therefore statement (E) is correct.

The correct statements are (C) and (E) only. The correct answer is Option (3): (C) and (E) only.