6.02 Reactions of the halogens ‘The trend in reactivity Chlori They react in a similar way . bromine, and iodine are the three most common halogen! but there are differences. Look at their reactions with iron wool chlorine iron woo! gas in | gas cout va heat hot The irc bromine is used, Brown smoke Hot iron wool glows brightly lows less brightly when when chlorine passes over it Brown smoke forms, and a brown and a brown solid are formed. Its solid is left behind. Itis the salt iron({ll) chloride. the salt iron(I11) bromide ‘The trend is the same for all the halogen reactions: React \creasesas you go up Group 7. fluorine iodine ‘Their reactions with iron and oth With chlorine, above, the reaction is: metals produce ionic salts, iron + chlorine —> iron(II) chloride 2Fe (s) + 3Ch(g) —> 146) Explaining the trend Halogen atoms need to gain an electron to obtain a full outer shell ‘An atom can attract an extra electron because of the positive charge on its nucleus. (Opposite charges attract.) But as atoms get shells get further from the nucleus, so the force « So the elements get lessreactive, ger their outer traction gets less ‘Compare these chlorine and bromine atoms: brominw ator Chlorine atom outer shel icloser (shi) 18 shale) tothe mucous . postive : rte than ‘ pucleus a ‘ nr ) + Anne fey) )} sothis electron tan \ kX pila femore svonghy g this one J if anracted cytotate of odin ‘a With iodine, the iron glows less brightly, But once again, noke and a brown ed, It is the 8 brown are forn iron(IIl) iodideto the colourless solution of this potassium chloride chloride (KC1) potassium bromide (KBr) _ potassium iodide (KI) the solution goes a the solution goes a i yellow-orange colour red-brown clout no change observed the solution goes a red-brown colour Jodine solution (1) hho change observed ‘no change observed y chlorine has reacted with the potassium bromide solution: tiene otassium bromide + chlorine —> pot lori si tassium chloride + bromine 2KBr (ag) + ~ Br: + 20 a 7 Chlorine atoms are smaller than bromine atoms. So they attract electrons more strongly. This makes chlorine a stronger oxidizing agent. Cleaning up with halogens ater, It reacts with it to form two acids: HClag) +: HOCI(ag) hydrochloric acid hypochlorous acid ‘acts as a bleach. This is because to other substances - it oxidizes jour when oxidized. Chlorine is soluble in ws 2) + H20 () —> solution is called chlorine water. It hypochlorous acid can lose its oxygen Many coloured substances lose their col se other bleaches, the solution also acts as a sterilizing agent = ivkills: ca seit is used to sterilize our water supply at Water sin a sng and in swimsming. pools, Iodine alsodills blbteci saa je colution of fodine in aleohol, and is used as an antsepak . Questions 1 Describe how chlorine reacts with: 2 What isthe tend in the reactivity of the halogens? 3 Chlorine is more reactive than bromine. WHY? 4 The fith element in Group 7s astatine. Would You expec it to be more or less reactive than iodine? iron wool.