Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): $$SiO_2$$ and $$GeO_2$$ are acidic while SnO and PbO are amphoteric in nature.
Statement (II): Allotropic forms of carbon are due to property of catenation and $$p\pi - d\pi$$ bond formation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

We analyze two statements about Group 14 elements.

Statement I: $$SiO_2$$ and $$GeO_2$$ are acidic while $$SnO$$ and $$PbO$$ are amphoteric in nature.

$$SiO_2$$ and $$GeO_2$$ are indeed acidic oxides (they react with bases to form silicates and germanates). $$SnO$$ and $$PbO$$ are amphoteric (they react with both acids and bases). Statement I is TRUE.

Statement II: Allotropic forms of carbon are due to property of catenation and $$p\pi - d\pi$$ bond formation.

Carbon has allotropes (diamond, graphite, fullerenes) due to its excellent catenation ability and $$p\pi - p\pi$$ bonding (not $$p\pi - d\pi$$). Carbon does not have accessible d-orbitals for $$p\pi - d\pi$$ bonding. The ability to form multiple bonds via $$p\pi - p\pi$$ overlap is what gives carbon its diverse allotropes. Statement II is FALSE.

The answer is Option C) Statement I is true but Statement II is false.