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.
Halogen |
Formula of molecule |
Electrical conductivity |
Solubility in water |
Melting point(oC) |
Boiling point(oC) |
Fluorine |
F2 |
Poor |
Insoluble /soluble in tetrachloro methane |
-238 |
-188 |
Chlorine |
Cl2 |
Poor |
Insoluble /soluble in tetrachloro methane |
-101 |
-35 |
Bromine |
Br2 |
Poor |
Insoluble /soluble in tetrachloro methane |
7 |
59 |
Iodine |
I2 |
Poor |
Insoluble /soluble in tetrachloro methane |
114 |
sublimes |