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The volatility of the Group 17 elements, chlorine, bromine and iodine, decreases down the group - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 17 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 17
The volatility of the Group 17 elements, chlorine, bromine and iodine, decreases down the group. What is responsible for this trend? A. bond length in the halogen mo... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The volatility of the Group 17 elements, chlorine, bromine and iodine, decreases down the group - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 17 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
What is responsible for this trend?
Answer
The decrease in volatility of Group 17 elements down the group is primarily due to the number of electrons in the halogen atom. As we move down the group from chlorine to iodine, the number of electron shells increases, leading to more electron-electron repulsion and a larger atomic radius. This results in a weaker attraction between the nucleus and the outermost electrons, thereby decreasing the volatility.
In essence, the increase in atomic size creates a situation where halogen molecules become less able to escape into the gaseous state under similar conditions, thus affecting their volatility.