Question

Give chemical evidence for the following:

Fluorine is a stronger oxidising agent than chlorine.

Answer 1

1. Fluorine can displace chlorine, bromine, and iodine from their salt solutions, but chlorine can only displace bromine and iodine, not fluorine.
2. Reaction examples:
   1. \[\ce{F2 + 2Cl- -> 2F- + Cl2}\]
   2. \[\ce{Cl2 + 2Br- -> 2Cl- + Br2}\]
3. This ability shows fluorine has stronger oxidising power as it oxidises chloride ions, whereas chlorine cannot oxidise fluoride ions.
4. The oxidising power of halogens decreases down the group: Fluorine > Chlorine > Bromine > Iodine.