Halogen Group: Elements, Properties, and Uses

The halogen group is essential in chemistry and helps students understand various practical and theoretical applications related to this topic.

What is Halogen Group in Chemistry?

A halogen group refers to a set of five highly reactive non-metal elements located in Group 17 of the periodic table. This concept appears in chapters related to periodic trends, chemical bonding, and redox reactions, making it a foundational part of your chemistry syllabus. 

The halogens include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. These elements are often called "salt-formers" because they readily react with metals to create salts, like table salt (sodium chloride).

Molecular Formula and Composition

The molecular form of a halogen element is usually diatomic, which means it exists as X₂ molecules (e.g., F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂). Each halogen atom has 7 valence electrons, falling into the p-block of the periodic table. They easily gain one electron to achieve a noble gas configuration.

Preparation and Synthesis Methods

Halogens are rarely found free in nature due to their high reactivity. Industrially, chlorine is prepared by electrolysis of brine (saltwater), while bromine and iodine are extracted from natural brines and seaweed. 

Fluorine is obtained by the electrolysis of hydrogen fluoride with potassium fluoride. In the lab, displacement reactions—using a more reactive halogen to liberate a less reactive one from its salt—are common for demonstration and small-scale synthesis.

Physical Properties of Halogen Group

Halogen elements show a trend in their state at room temperature: fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine and astatine are solids. Their color intensifies down the group. 

Halogens are poisonous and have a strong, irritating smell. Their melting and boiling points increase as you go down the group. All are poor conductors of heat and electricity.

Element	Symbol	Atomic Number	State at 25°C	Color
Fluorine	F	9	Gas	Pale yellow
Chlorine	Cl	17	Gas	Greenish-yellow
Bromine	Br	35	Liquid	Reddish-brown
Iodine	I	53	Solid	Violet-black
Astatine	At	85	Solid	Unknown

Chemical Properties and Reactions

Halogens are among the most reactive elements. They react with metals to form ionic halides and with non-metals to give covalent halides. In chemical reactions, halogens can displace less reactive halogens from their salts and act as strong oxidizing agents. Their general valency is one (-1), as they need one more electron to fill their outer shell.

Frequent Related Errors

• Confusing Group 17 with Group 7: In modern chemistry, halogens are Group 17, but older books may say Group 7A.
• Thinking halogens are metals: All are nonmetals, though astatine may show some metallic character.
• Forgetting states of matter: Students often mix up which halogen is a gas, liquid, or solid at room temperature.
• Assuming all halogen bonds are ionic: With metals, bonds are ionic, but with non-metals, covalent bonds dominate.

Uses of Halogen Group in Real Life

The halogen group is widely used in everyday life and industry:

• Fluorine compounds are used in toothpaste and Teflon cookware.
• Chlorine is common for disinfecting water and making PVC plastics.
• Bromine is used in flame retardants and photography chemicals.
• Iodine is essential for health, found in iodized salt and antiseptics.
• Many halogen compounds are vital in medicines and agrochemicals.

Relation with Other Chemistry Concepts

The halogen group is closely related to chemical bonding, periodic trends, and oxidation-reduction concepts. You can link this topic with chemical bonding for compound formation, p-block elements for group-wise comparison, and the periodic table for learning placement and number trends. 

Step-by-Step Reaction Example

Here is an example of a displacement reaction involving halogens:

1. Take potassium bromide (KBr) solution.

2. Add chlorine gas (Cl₂) to the solution.

3. Write the balanced equation:


4. Chlorine is more reactive than bromine, so it displaces bromine from the salt.

5. Bromine is liberated as a red-brown liquid.

Lab or Experimental Tips

Remember halogens by “F Cl Br I At” (use a catchy phrase like "Funny Clever Boys Invite Aunts"). Vedantu educators often use colored gases and solutions in demonstrations so students can visually track reactions and displacement trends.

Try This Yourself

• Write the molecular formula for chlorine and iodine as they exist naturally.
• Arrange all halogens in order of increasing reactivity.
• Name two everyday items that contain halogens.

Final Wrap-Up

We explored the halogen group—its definition, elements, properties, reactions, and importance in real life. Understanding Group 17 is crucial for learning chemical bonding, trends, and practical chemistry. For interactive explanations and exam-ready notes, check out live learning on Vedantu.