EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer and Explanation: Halogens form compounds by pulling electrons from other atoms toward themselves. In the salt NaCl for instance, the halogen Cl-, being highly electronegative (needing only 1 electron to form a stable octet), pulls the electron from the Na+ atom toward itself. This is an example of an ionic bond.

Detailed explanation-2: -In combination with other nonmetals, the halogens form compounds through covalent bonding. In their elemental form, the halogens form diatomic molecules, X2, connected by single bonds.

Detailed explanation-3: -Each halogen atom carries seven electrons in its outermost orbitals. Potentially, each halogen atom can hold one additional electron; in acquiring such an electron the atom acts as an oxidizing agent and in the process assumes a negative electrical charge and becomes a negative ion.

Detailed explanation-4: -As expected, these elements have certain properties in common. They all form diatomic molecules (H2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2, and At2), for example, and they all form negatively charged ions (H-, F-, Cl-, Br-, I-, and At-).

Detailed explanation-5: -Negative ions are formed by gaining electrons and are called anions. Anions are designated by their elemental name being altered to end in “-ide”: the anion of chlorine is called chloride, and the anion of sulfur is called sulfide, for example.