Groups 7

Student Version
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3.2.3.1 Trends in properties

Content Opportunities for skills development
The trends in electronegativity and boiling point of the halogens.

Students should be able to:

•• explain the trend in electronegativity
•• explain the trend in the boiling point of the elements in terms of their structure and bonding.

The trend in oxidising ability of the halogens down the group, including displacement reactions of halide ions in aqueous
solution.

The trend in reducing ability of the halide ions, including the reactions of solid sodium halides with concentrated sulphuric acid.

The use of acidified silver nitrate solution to identify and distinguish between halide ions.

The trend in solubility of the silver halides in ammonia.

Students should be able to explain why:

•• silver nitrate solution is used to identify halide ions
•• the silver nitrate solution is acidified
•• ammonia solution is added.

3.2.3.2 Uses of chlorine and chlorate(I)

Content Opportunities for skills development
The reaction of chlorine with water to form chloride ions and
chlorate(I) ions.

The reaction of chlorine with water to form chloride ions and oxygen.

Appreciate that society assesses the advantages and disadvantages

when deciding if chemicals should be added to water supplies.

The use of chlorine in water treatment.

Appreciate that the benefits to health of water treatment by chlorine

outweigh its toxic effects.

The reaction of chlorine with cold, dilute, aqueous NaOH and uses of the solution formed.

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 Group 7 Trends

Q. What is the trend in boiling point down group 7?

Q. Halogens are naturally observed as pairs. What is the scientific definition for this?

Q. What type of interaction exits between halogen molecules?

Q. How does this interaction change down group 7 and why?

Electronegativity

Fill out the table below for the group 7 elements.

No. Of
Element Symbol Electron Configuration Electro negativity Value
Electrons

Fluorine F 4.0

Chlorine Cl 3.0

Bromine Br 2.8

Iodine I 2.5

Q. What is the definition of electronegativity?

Q What is the trend in electronegativity down group 7? Explain your answer.

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 Oxidising Ability (How good they are at being Oxidising Agents)

Oxidation = Loss of electrons

Oxidising agent = Electron acceptor

Oxidising ability = The ability to take electrons from something. The higher the oxidising ability the better it
is at this.

How many electrons do group 7 elements want to

lose/gain and why?

What does the positive charge of the nucleus do to

the negative charge of the electrons of a different
atom?

What happens to the distance from the nucleus to

where the outer electron will be placed as you go
down the group?

As you go down the group is it going to get easier or

harder to gain the electron and why?

How does this affect the element’s Oxidising ability

as you go down the group?

How does the halogens reactivity change down the group as a result?

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We can use diplacement reactions to observe how the Oxidsing ability of group 7 Halogens changes down the group.
Below are the reactions that take place when a Halogen reacts with a Metalide Halide

If the Halogen is more reactive than the Halide ion there will be a displacement reacion.

Q. For each of the reactions below:

• Complete the symbol equation based on whether they react or not using the observations above.
• Write down the oxidation state of the halogen and halide before they react and after they react.
• Write the half equation for each of any reactions that takes place.

Cl2(aq) + 2KBr(aq) → 2KCl(aq) + Br2(aq)

0 +1 -1 +1 -1 0

Cl2 + 2e- → 2Cl-

2Br- → Br2 + 2e-

Cl2(aq) + 2KI(aq) →

Br2(aq) + KCl(aq) → No reaction

0 -1

Br2(aq) + 2KI(aq) →

I2(aq) + KCl(aq) →

I2(aq) + KBr(aq) →

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 Reducing Ability (How good they are at being Reducing Agents)

Reduction = Is gain of electrons

Reducing agent: Electron donor

Reducing ability = The ability to lose electrons from something so they can be given to something else. The
higher the reducing ability the better it is at losing electrons.

What does the positive charge of the nucleus do the negative

charge of the electrons in that atom?

What happens to the distance from the nucleus to where the

outer electrons that must be lost as you go down the group?

As you go down the group is it going to get easier or harder to lose

the electrons and why?

How does this affect the elements Reducing ability as you go down
the group?

How does the halogens’ reactivity change down the group as a result?

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Reactions of NaX with H2SO4

We can see the affect of reducing ability by looking at the reactions of Sodium halides with H2SO4.

Calculate the oxidation state of the Halogen and Sulphur before and after the reaction in each case.
What observations wouold be seen each time?

• Fluoride ions

NaF(s) + H2SO4(aq) → NaHSO4(s) + HF(g) Type of reaction: Acid-Base

F Before = F After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =

• Chloride ions

NaCl(s) + H2SO4(aq) → NaHSO4(s) + HCl(s) Type of reaction: Acid-Base

Cl Before = Cl After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =

Q. What do these reactions have in common and what does this tell you about the reducing ability of
Fluoride and Chloride?

• Bromide ions

NaBr(s) + H2SO4(aq) → NaHSO4(s) + HBr(g) Type of reaction: Acid-Base

Br Before = Br After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =
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2HBr(aq) + H2SO4(aq) → Br2(g) + SO2(g) + 2H2O(l) Type of reaction: Redox

Br Before = Br After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =

Q. What does this reaction have in common with the Fluoride and Chloride reactions?

Q. Why is there a 2nd reaction?

Q . Why does the reaction stop once the SO2 is made?

• Iodide ions

NaI(s) + H2SO4(l) → NaHSO4(s) + HI(g) Type of reaction: Acid-Base

I Before = I After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =

2HI(g) + H2SO4(l) → I2(s) + SO2(g) + 2H2O(l) Type of reaction:

I Before = I After =

S Before = S After =

Observations:
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6HI(g) + SO2(g) → 3I2(s) + H2S(g) + 2H2O(l) Type of reaction:

I Before = I After =

S Before = S After =

Observations =

Q. What does this reaction have in common with the Fluoride, Chloride & Bromide reactions?

Q . Why are there 3 reactions when Iodide react?

Identification of Halide Ions Using Silver Nitrate

Q. Using your lab book and/or research, write down the colours of the precipitates formed and whether
they can be redissolved in Dilute Ammonia solution or Concentrated Ammonia Solution:

Precipitate formed
Solubility in Dilute Solubility in Conc
Halide ion with Acidified Silver Colour of precipitate
Ammonia Solution Ammonia Solution
Nitrate
NA – AgF is
Fluoride soluble so doesn’t NA NA NA
form
Chloride AgCl
Bromide
Iodide

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Q. Using the general equation below for the formation of the precipitates, write an equation for each of the
reactions that takes place. X- is the Halide ion:

Ag+ (aq) + X-(aq) → AgX(s)

Dissolving the precipitate in Ammonia gives the complex [Ag(NH3)2]+

Ag(aq) + 2NH3(aq) ⇋ [Ag(NH3)2]+(aq)

NOTE: The Nitric acid used in the method prevents OH- ions in the solution (water) from reacting with the Ag+ ions
and forming another precipitate which might confuse observations. The acid neutralises the OH- ions

Ag+(aq) + OH-(aq) → AgOH(s) The precipitate formed is brown

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Reactions of Chlorine and Water

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Uses of Chlorine in Water

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