Week: 4
Topic: Halogens
Objectives:
Describe the Group VII halogens, chlorine, bromine and iodine, as diatomic non-metals
with general trends down the group, limited to:
(a) Increasing density
(b) Decreasing reactivity
State the appearance of the halogens at r.t.p. as:
(a) Chlorine, a pale yellow-green gas
(b) Bromine, a red-brown liquid
(c) Iodine, a grey-black solid
Describe and explain the displacement reactions of halogens with other halide ions
Predict the properties of other elements in Group VII, given information about the
elements
Chemical reactivity of the halogens
Reaction with metals and non-metals
Fluorine and chlorine are very reactive. They combine strongly with metals and non-
metals.
Dutch metal foil (an alloy of copper and zinc) will burst into flames when placed in a gas
jar full of chlorine.
Other examples include;
1. Aluminium + chlorine →aluminium chloride
Balanced equation;
The metal glows white as it reacts. Aluminium also reacts strongly with bromine and
iodine
2. Hydrogen + chlorine →hydrogen chloride
Balanced equation;
This reaction can be explosive if carried out in a different way.
3. Reaction with water
Chlorine dissolves in water to give an acidic solution called chlorine water, a mixture
of two acids.
Chlorine + water → hydrochloric acid + hypochlorous acid
Balanced equation;
Chlorine water acts as an oxidizing agent ( gives up its oxygen to other substances).
Hypochlorous acid ( an oxidizing agent) also acts as a bleach because some coloured
substances lose their colour when they are oxidized.
This reaction is used to test for chlorine gas. Damp litmus or universal indicator is
bleached when held in the gas.
Displacement reactions
A more reactive halogen will displace a less reactive halogen from a solution of its salt.
Note that group 1 metal halide salt solutions are colourless.
For example;
Chlorine + potassium bromide → potassium chloride + bromine
Colourless orange
Summary of chemical properties of halogens on page 269, Cambridge for IGCSE chemistry