Question

Explain why inter hydrogen compounds are more reactive than halogens

Answer 1

The halogens react with eachother to form interhalogen compounds. The general formula of most interhalogen compounds is XY(n), where n = 1, 3, 5 or 7, and X is the less electronegative of the two halogens. The compounds which are formed by the union of two different halogens are called inter halogen compounds.

Interhalogen are all prone to hydrolysis and ionize to give rise to polyatomic ions. The inter halogens are generally more reactive than halogens except F2.

This is because A-X bonds in interhalogens are weaker than the X-X bonds in dihalogen molecules. And A-X bonds are weak due to differences in the electronegativities of the two halogens .e.g-

ICl is more reactive than I2 because the electronegativity difference between Cl and I polarise the bond and therefore, breaks more easily as conpared to I2