Point-wise summary for each element in the seventeenth group of the periodic table, also known as Group 17 or the halogens:
Fluorine (F) - Atomic Number: 9
- A diatomic nonmetal gas with a pale yellow color.
- The most reactive and electronegative element.
- Used in toothpaste and water fluoridation to promote dental health.
- Fluorine compounds are used in refrigerants and propellants.
- Used in various chemical processes, including the production of uranium hexafluoride.
Chlorine (Cl) - Atomic Number: 17
- A diatomic nonmetal gas with a greenish-yellow color.
- Used in the disinfection of water and swimming pools.
- Chlorine compounds are used in the production of plastics, solvents, and pesticides.
- Chlorine gas was used as a chemical weapon in World War I.
- Used in the bleaching of paper and textiles.
Bromine (Br) - Atomic Number: 35
- A diatomic nonmetal liquid with a reddish-brown color and strong odor.
- Used as a flame retardant and in the production of photographic chemicals.
- Bromine compounds are used in drilling fluids for oil wells.
- Bromine is also used in the preparation of certain medications.
- Elemental bromine is toxic and should be handled with care.
Iodine (I) - Atomic Number: 53
- A nonmetal solid with a characteristic purple color when sublimed.
- Essential for thyroid function in humans and animals.
- Used in disinfectants, antiseptics, and dyes.
- Iodine compounds are used as contrast agents in medical imaging.
- Iodine-131 is used in nuclear medicine and cancer treatment.
Astatine (At) - Atomic Number: 85
- A highly radioactive element and the rarest naturally occurring halogen.
- Produced synthetically in particle accelerators.
- Has limited practical applications due to its scarcity and radioactivity.
- Used in scientific research to study its properties.
- Some astatine compounds show promise in targeted alpha-particle cancer therapy.
The halogens are highly reactive nonmetals that readily form compounds with metals and other elements. They play significant roles in various industrial, medical, and chemical applications. Each halogen has distinct properties and uses, from the essential role of iodine in human health to the disinfection properties of chlorine.
