11.2 The Chemical Properties of The Halogen Elements and The Hydrogen Halides
11.2 The Chemical Properties of The Halogen Elements and The Hydrogen Halides
11.2 The Chemical Properties of The Halogen Elements and The Hydrogen Halides
2 The chemical properties of the halogen elements and the hydrogen halides
2 describe the reactions of the elements with hydrogen and explain their relative reactivity in
these reactions
The halogens form hydrogen halides with hydrogen gas. The trend in reactivity is illustrated by their
reactions (Table 12.3).
A fluorine atom has the strongest pull on the pair of electrons in a covalent bond, while an iodine atom
has the weakest attraction for electrons. We can explain this by looking at the atomic radius.The fluorine
atom is the smallest in the group. Its outer shell is nearer to the attractive force of the nucleus and an
electron entering its outer shell will also experience the least shielding from the attraction of the
positive nuclear charge. These factors outweigh the fact that fluorine’s nuclear charge is only 9+
compared with iodine’s 53+. Therefore fluorine is a much stronger oxidising agent (acceptor of
electrons) than iodine.
3 describe the relative thermal stabilities of the hydrogen halides and explain these in terms of
bond strengths
2
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