Question

Give a reason for the following:

Fluorine gives only one oxide but chlorine gives a series of oxides.

Answer 1

Fluorine does not have d orbital. Chlorine has vacant 3d orbital. Electrons jump from 3s and 3p orbitals to 3d orbitals.

Answer 2

Fluorine is the most electronegative element and has only one oxidation state of –1. Because of this, it cannot show positive oxidation states and therefore forms only one oxide, F₂O, where oxygen acts as the central atom. In contrast, chlorine can exhibit multiple positive oxidation states such as +1, +3, +5, and +7, allowing it to form a series of oxides like Cl₂O, ClO₂, Cl₂O₃, Cl₂O₅, Cl₂O₇, etc.