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INTERHALOGEN
COMPOUNDS
INTRODUCTION
Since F-atom is more electronegative than Oatoni, and does not
have orbitals to receive the electron pair donated by
back donation, it
does not give any oxy-acids, while other halogen atoms
form oxy-acids.
The structures of these compounds are known with the
varying degree
of accuracy. The binary compounds formed by
halogens amongst
themselves are known as "interhalogen Compounds."
These have the
general formula AX., where n = 1, 3., 5 and 7. There are
never more than
two different halogens in any known interhalogen
compound. The
difference in electronegativity values among the
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elements of a halogen
family gives rise to the formation of binary conipounds, These are
collectively acknowledged ad interhalogen compounds.
It means that ternary compounds of halogens with
one another are
not known. The probable reason for this is that such a
complex moiecuie
might be unstable which would be broken down to
simpler compounds.
Selig (1964) of course claimed to have obtained a
compound firC1F,ri due
to the interaction between $t-F3 and chlorine which is a
colourless solid,
conducting due to self-ionisation of this compound
to give rise Or
and BrE4This needs further investigation. However,
poiyhalides containing
three different halogens such as MIBeF and MICifir
and Mil:CI, are
known, it will be noted that interhalogen compounds are
of the type AX n,
when n is an odd number and X is always the lighter
halogen when n

is, greater than un,ity

Because n is always odd, it follows that all the
interhalogen
compounds are diamagnetic having all velency
electrons present either
as shared (bonding) or unshared Pairs. It is expected
that nay further
interhalogens, if discovered, will contain an even
number of atoms.
.