How do halogens form diatomic molecules? | TutorChase (2024)

Halogens form diatomic molecules by sharing a pair of electrons between two atoms, creating a single covalent bond.

Halogens are elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table and include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They are known for their high reactivity, which is due to their electron configuration. Each halogen atom has seven electrons in its outermost shell and needs one more to achieve a stable, full outer shell, similar to the noble gases. This makes them highly reactive and eager to form bonds with other elements or with themselves.

When two halogen atoms come together, they can share a pair of electrons, one from each atom, to form a single covalent bond. This process is known as covalent bonding. The shared pair of electrons orbits the nuclei of both atoms, effectively 'gluing' them together to form a molecule. In the case of halogens, this results in the formation of a diatomic molecule, meaning a molecule composed of two atoms of the same element. For example, two fluorine atoms can bond together to form a molecule of F2, or diatomic fluorine.

This electron sharing allows each halogen atom to achieve a full outer shell of eight electrons, satisfying the octet rule. The octet rule states that atoms are most stable when their outermost shell is full, typically with eight electrons. By sharing a pair of electrons, each halogen atom in the molecule effectively has eight electrons in its outer shell, even though one of those electrons is shared with the other atom.

In summary, halogens form diatomic molecules through covalent bonding, where a pair of electrons is shared between two atoms. This allows each atom to achieve a stable, full outer shell of electrons, satisfying the octet rule and resulting in a highly stable diatomic molecule.

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    How do halogens form diatomic molecules? | TutorChase? ›

    In summary, halogens form diatomic molecules

    diatomic molecules
    Diatomic molecules (from Greek di- 'two') are molecules composed of only two atoms, of the same or different chemical elements. If a diatomic molecule consists of two atoms of the same element, such as hydrogen (H 2) or oxygen ( O 2), then it is said to be hom*onuclear.
    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Diatomic_molecule
    through covalent bonding, where a pair of electrons is shared between two atoms. This allows each atom to achieve a stable, full outer shell of electrons, satisfying the octet rule and resulting in a highly stable diatomic molecule.

    How is a diatomic molecule formed? ›

    Elements can form hom*onuclear diatomic molecules where two atoms of the same element bond together: hydrogen, nitrogen, fluorine, oxygen, iodine, chlorine, bromine. Elements can also form heteronuclear diatomic molecules where both atoms present are of different elements, e.g., NaCl or sodium-chloride.

    Why do halogens form diatomic molecules but noble gases do not? ›

    For noble gases the highest energy orbitals are completely occupied by electrons so there is (almost) no reactivity. For halogens there is always one electron missing. Individual orbitals can be occupied by 2 electrons (with opposite spin). So halogens can as diatomic molecules share an electron.

    How do halogen diatomic molecules attract each other? ›

    When two fluorine atoms are mixed together, they're attracted to one another and form a single bond, sharing one electron each. This means that the valence shell at each atom is full and the atom is more stable. The fluorine atoms are sharing valence electrons. This type of bonding is called covalent.

    How do halogens form molecular compounds? ›

    When halogens react with non-metals, they form molecules. For example, when chlorine reacts with hydrogen, it forms hydrogen chloride. These compounds are often polar, meaning they have a positive and negative end, and can dissolve in water to form acids.

    Why do diatomic molecules form? ›

    Diatomic molecules are normally of elements that have a space for one more electron in its valent shell. As a result, two atoms of the element can create a covalent bond, hence sharing an electron each, and providing one another with a full valent shell.

    Are halogens diatomic? ›

    All of the halogens exist as diatomic molecules. This means that the elements are made up of pairs of atoms that are chemically joined together (for example, fluorine exists as F2, chlorine as Cl2, bromine as Br2 and iodine as I2).

    How do halogens form diatomic molecules? ›

    Halogens form diatomic molecules by sharing a pair of electrons between two atoms, creating a single covalent bond. Halogens are elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table and include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

    Why do halogens form diatomic molecules? ›

    Halogens are diatomic because they have an outer shell of seven valence electrons and react with other atoms of the same element to complete their shell. All atoms want to have a complete outer shell of electrons, called valence electrons.

    What elements form diatomic molecules? ›

    The elements that exist as diatomic molecules are hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), fluorine (F2), oxygen (O2), iodine (I2), chlorine (Cl2) and bromine (Br2).

    Why are halogens so reactive? ›

    All members of the halogen family have seven valence electrons. Because these atoms are so close to having a full set of eight valence electrons, they're very reactive. They show a chemical tendency to gain one electron by forming bonds and taking the electron from other atoms to attain a full set.

    What 2 groups do halogens like to react with? ›

    Halogens therefore react most vigorously with Group 1 and Group 2 metals of all main group elements.

    Which diatomic halogen molecules has the strongest bond? ›

    Bond energy of Cl2 is highest among all halogen molecules. Bond energy of F2,Cl2,Br2,I2 are 37,58,46 and 36 kcalmol−1, respectively.

    Why do halogens readily form bonds? ›

    Because the halogen elements have seven valence electrons, they only require one additional electron to form a full octet. This characteristic makes them more reactive than other non-metal groups.

    What do halogens form? ›

    The elements of Group VIIA (new Group 17 - fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine) are called the halogens (yellow column). The term “halogen” means “salt-former” because these elements will readily react with alkali metal and alkaline earth metals to form halide salts.

    What molecules do halogens make? ›

    The stable halogens form hom*onuclear diatomic molecules. Due to relatively weak intermolecular forces, chlorine and fluorine form part of the group known as "elemental gases". The elements become less reactive and have higher melting points as the atomic number increases.

    How does oxygen form a diatomic molecule? ›

    Model of molecular or diatomic oxygen, composed of two oxygen atoms bonded together. Molecular oxygen (O2) is a diatomic molecule that is composed of two oxygen atoms held together by a covalent bond. Molecular oxygen is essential for life, as it is used for respiration by many organisms.

    What does diatomic form mean? ›

    di·​atom·​ic ˌdī-ə-ˈtä-mik. : consisting of two atoms : having two atoms in the molecule.

    How to tell if an element is diatomic? ›

    Diatomic elements exist as two atoms bonded together in their natural state, like Hydrogen (H2), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), Fluorine (F2), Chlorine (Cl2), Bromine (Br2), and Iodine (I2). These are often remembered using the mnemonic 'HOFBrINCl' (pronounced "Hoffbrinkle").

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