1. Copper lies below hydrogen in the electrochemical series and hence does not liberate H, from acids. The electrode potential value for Cu is -0.34 V and H
+ ion is zero. Hence the first statement is incorrect.
2. In its higher oxidation states, manganese forms stable compounds with oxygen and fluorine. Oxygen and fluorine stabilized the higher oxidation state of manganese. Thus, statement second is correct.
3. Oxidizing agents are those which oxidize other compounds and get reduced themselves.
Mn
3+ (d
6) can act as a stronger oxidizing agent because Mn
2+ is a d
5 configuration and it is stable. The electrode potential value is as follows:
Mn
3+/Mn
2+ = +1.57
Co
3+/Co
2+ = +1.97
Hence, it is a correct statement.
4. Ti
2+ and Cr
2+ are reducing agents in an aqueous solution. Cr
2+ is reducing as its configuration changes from d
4 to d
3, the latter having a half-filled t
2g level. Hence, statement is also correct.
Therefore, option (a) is not correct. The other three options (b, c, d) are correct.