Question

Describe the following about halogen family elements:

Relative oxidising power

Answer 1

1. Halogen elements (F, Cl, Br, I, and At) act as strong oxidising agents because they tend to gain an electron to complete their outer shell.
2. The oxidising power of halogens decreases down the group from fluorine to iodine.
3. This trend is due to the decrease in their standard reduction potential down the group.
4. Fluorine is the strongest oxidising agent and can displace chlorine, bromine, and iodine from their salt solutions.
5. Chlorine can displace bromine and iodine, while bromine can only displace iodine.
6. Iodine has the lowest oxidising power among halogens.