Problem carbon forms two stable oxides co and co2 lead

Question

Problem: Carbon forms two stable oxides, CO and CO2. Lead forms three oxides: yellow PbO, black PbO₂ and red Pb₃O₄.

a. Carbon monoxide burns readily in air. Heating black lead oxide produces oxygen gas, leaving a yellow residue.

i. Suggest a balanced equation for each reaction.

ii. Explain how these two reaction illustrate the relative stabilities of the +2 and +4 oxidation states down Group IV.

b. Red lead oxide contains lead atoms in two different oxidation states.

i. Suggest what these oxidation states are, and calculate the ratio in which they occur in read lead oxide.