interhalogen
Sign in to saveIn chemistry, an interhalogen compound is a molecule which contains two or more different halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or astatine) and no atoms of elements from any other group.
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Types of interhalogens
- Diatomic interhalogens
- Tetratomic interhalogens
- Hexatomic interhalogens
- Octatomic interhalogens
- Properties
- Production
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
In chemistry, an interhalogen compound is a molecule which contains two or more different halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or astatine) and no atoms of elements from any other group.
Most interhalogen compounds known are binary (composed of only two distinct elements). Their formulae are generally {{chem2|XY_{n} }}, where n = 1, 3, 5 or 7, and X is the less electronegative of the two halogens. The value of n in interhalogens is always odd, because of the odd valence of halogens. They are all prone to hydrolysis, and ionize to give rise to polyhalogen ions. Those formed with astatine have a very short half-life due to astatine being intensely radioactive.