Given below are two statements:

Statement I: The halogen that makes longest bond with hydrogen in HX, has the smallest covalent radius in its group.

Statement II: A group 15 element's hydride $$EH_{3}$$ has the lowest boiling point among corresponding hydrides of other group 15 elements. The maximum covalency of that element E is 4.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below

We evaluate two statements about p-block elements.

Statement I: "The halogen that makes longest bond with hydrogen in HX, has the smallest covalent radius in its group."

The longest H-X bond is in HI (because iodine has the largest atomic/covalent radius). However, iodine has the largest covalent radius in its group, not the smallest. Statement I is FALSE.

Statement II: "A group 15 element's hydride $$EH_3$$ has the lowest boiling point among corresponding hydrides. The maximum covalency of that element E is 4."

Among group 15 hydrides ($$NH_3, PH_3, AsH_3, SbH_3, BiH_3$$), $$PH_3$$ has the lowest boiling point ($$NH_3$$ has anomalously high BP due to H-bonding). The element E is phosphorus (P). Phosphorus has empty 3d orbitals and can expand its octet, reaching a maximum covalency of 5 (as in $$PCl_5$$), not 4. Statement II is FALSE.

Both statements are false.

The correct answer is Option (4): Both Statement I and Statement II are false.