Group

Seven:
The
Halogens
The Halogens
The halogens are:
Fluorine F

The Halogens
The halogens are:
Fluorine F
Chlorine Cl

The Halogens
The halogens are:
Fluorine F
Chlorine Cl
Bromine Br

The Halogens
The halogens are:
Fluorine F
Chlorine Cl
Bromine Br
Iodine I
(Astatine At)
The Halogens
The Group 7 elements all exist as diatomic molecules. By
sharing a pair of electrons between them, two atoms of a
Group 7 element can both obtain complete valence shells.
The Halogens
The word halogen is derived from the Greek language and
means salt producer. This reflects the ability of the Group 7
elements to react with a metal forming an ionic compound or
salt as the reaction product.

Sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride:
sodium + chlorine sodium chloride
Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
2Na
(s)
+ Cl
2(g)
2NaCl
(s)

The Halogens
The word halogen is derived from the Greek language and
means salt producer. This reflects the ability of the Group 7
elements to react with a metal forming an ionic compound or
salt as the reaction product.

Magnesium reacts with iodine to form magnesium iodide:
magnesium + iodine magnesium iodide
Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
Mg
(s)
+ I
2(s)
MgI
2(s)

The Halogens
The word halogen is derived from the Greek language and
means salt producer. This reflects the ability of the Group 7
elements to react with a metal forming an ionic compound or
salt as the reaction product.

Aluminium reacts with bromine to form aluminium bromide:
aluminium + bromine aluminium bromide
Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
2Al
(s)
+ 3Br
2(l)
2AlBr
3(s)

The Halogens
The word halogen is derived from the Greek language and
means salt producer. This reflects the ability of the Group 7
elements to react with a metal forming an ionic compound or
salt as the reaction product.

iron reacts with chlorine to form iron(III) chloride:
iron + chlorine iron(III) chloride
Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
2Fe
(s)
+ 3Cl
2(g)
2FeCl
3(s)

The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
The reactivity of the Group 7 elements decreases while
descending the Group. The Group 7 elements all react by
gaining a single electron to fill their valence shell, resulting
in the formation of an ion with a single negative charge.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
The reactivity of the Group 7 elements decreases while
descending the Group. The Group 7 elements all react by
gaining a single electron to fill their valence shell, resulting
in the formation of an ion with a single negative charge.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
While descending Group 7, the valence shell is removed
further and further from the nucleus of the atom due to the
addition of a complete, new electron shell.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
The further the valence shell is from the nucleus of the
atom, the weaker the force of attraction between the
positive nucleus and negative valence electrons.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
This means that, while descending Group 7, it becomes
increasingly more difficult for the positive nucleus to attract
a negative electron into the valence shell of the atom, and
the reactivity of the Group 7 elements consequently
decreases.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
In addition to this, while descending Group 7, the negative
valence electrons becomes more shielded from the
attractive force of the positive nucleus by the increasing
number of electron shells in between the nucleus and the
valence shell.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
This also makes it more difficult for the positive nucleus to
attract a negative electron into the valence shell of the
atom, and the reactivity of the Group 7 elements
consequently decreases on descending the Group.
The Halogens
Reactivity of the Group 7 Elements
Reactivity
Decreases
Fluorine
Most Reactive
The valence shell is close to the
nucleus and is not very well shielded.
It is easy for the positive nucleus to
attract a negative electron into the
valence shell of the atom.
Chlorine
Bromine
Least Reactive
The valence shell is far from the
nucleus and is well shielded. It is
difficult for the positive nucleus to
attract a negative electron into the
valence shell of the atom.
Iodine
Displacement Reactions
A more reactive halogen can displace a less reactive
halogen from its compounds.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium bromide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium bromide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium bromide.
Cl
2(aq)
+ 2KBr
(aq)
Br
2(aq)
+ 2KCl
(aq)
Cl
2(aq)
+ 2Br
-
(aq)
Br
2(aq)
+ 2Cl
-
(aq)

Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of chlorine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Cl
2(aq)
+ 2KI
(aq)
I
2(aq)
+ 2KCl
(aq)
Cl
2(aq)
+ 2I
-
(aq)
I
2(aq)
+ 2Cl
-
(aq)

Displacement Reactions
The addition of bromine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of bromine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of bromine water to aqueous potassium iodide.
Br
2(aq)
+ 2KI
(aq)
I
2(aq)
+ 2KBr
(aq)
Br
2(aq)
+ 2I
-
(aq)
I
2(aq)
+ 2Br
-
(aq)

Displacement Reactions
The addition of bromine water to aqueous potassium chloride.
Displacement Reactions
The addition of bromine water to aqueous potassium chloride.
There is no observed chemical reaction.
The Halogens
Uses of the halogens:
Fluorine:
Compounds of fluorine (e.g. potassium fluoride, formula KF) are
added to toothpaste and drinking water to strengthen tooth enamel and
therefore reduce tooth decay.
Fluorine is used in the manufacture of the non-stick polymer Teflon.
Fluorine is used in the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
which are used in refrigerators and air-conditioning units.
Fluorine is used in the manufacture of the anaesthetic Halothane.
The structural formula
(left) and ball-and-stick
structure (right) of
Halothane.
The Halogens
Uses of the halogens:
Chlorine:
Chlorine is used in the manufacture of bleach, disinfectants and
antiseptics, for example, TCP.
Chlorine is used in the manufacture of the polymer PVC.
Chlorine is used in the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
which are used in refrigerators and air-conditioning units.
The structural
formula (left) and
ball-and-stick
structure (right)
of TCP.
The Halogens
Uses of the halogens:
Bromine:
Silver bromide (formula AgBr) is sensitive to light (photosensitive)
and is therefore used in the manufacture of photographic films. When
light strikes the photographic film, the silver ions are reduced to form
small dark crystals of silver metal. This produces the negative from
which the actual photograph is developed:
Ag
+
+ e

Ag
Bromine is also used in the manufacture of pesticides and teargas.
The Halogens
Uses of the halogens:
Iodine:
Iodine is required by the human body to make the hormone thyroxine.
Thyroxine is produced by the thyroid gland and affects the bodys basal
metabolic rate, protein synthesis and sensitivity to other hormones such
as insulin.
Iodine is used to make the mild antiseptic tincture of iodine that is
used in hospitals.
The structural
formula of
thyroxine.
The Halogens
Uses of the halogens:
Iodine:
Iodine is required by the human body to make the hormone thyroxine.
Thyroxine is produced by the thyroid gland and affects the bodys basal
metabolic rate, protein synthesis and sensitivity to other hormones such
as insulin.
Iodine is used to make the mild antiseptic tincture of iodine that is
used in hospitals.
The
ball-and-stick
structure of
thyroxine.
The four purple
spheres
represent iodine
atoms.