Physical properties

State at room temperature

  Fluorine and Chlorine are gases, Bromine is a liquid and Iodine is a solid. Astatine is radioactive .

All halogens exist as diatomic molecules bonded by strong covalent bond.

 Each molecule is joined to the other by weak intermolecular forces/ Van-der-waals forces.

Melting/Boiling point

The strength of intermolecular/Van-der-waals forces of attraction increase with increase in molecular size/atomic radius. Iodine has therefore the largest atomic radius and thus strongest intermolecular forces to make it a solid.

Iodine sublimes when heated to form (Caution: highly     toxic/poisonous) purple vapour.

This is because Iodine molecules are held together by weak van-der-waals/intermolecular  forces which require little heat energy to break.

Electrical conductivity

All Halogens are  poor conductors of electricity because they have no free delocalized electrons.

Solubility in polar and non-polar solvents

All halogens are soluble in water(polar solvent).

When  a boiling tube containing either chlorine gas or bromine vapour is separately inverted in a beaker containing distilled water and tetrachloromethane (non-polar solvent), the level of solution in boiling tube rises in both water and tetrachloromethane.

This is because halogen are soluble in both polar and non-polar solvents.

Solubility of halogens in water/polar solvents decrease down the group.

Solubility of halogens in non-polar solvent increase down the group.

 The level of water in chlorine is higher than in bromine and the level of tetrachloromethane in chlorine is lower than in bromine.

Caution: Tetrachloromethane , Bromine vapour and Chlorine gas are all highly toxic/poisonous.

1. State the halogens which are gases at room temperature

2. Generally halogens have low melting and boiling points. Explain