Fluorine differs from rest of the halogens in some of its properties. ...
Fluorine differs from rest of the elements of its family due to (i) its small size (ii) highest electronegativity, (iii) low bond dissociation energy and (iv) absence of d-orbitals in the valence shell.
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Fluorine differs from rest of the halogens in some of its properties. ...
Explanation:
Fluorine differs from the rest of the halogens in some of its properties due to the lack of d-orbitals. The explanation for this can be understood by considering the electronic configuration and the atomic structure of fluorine.
Electronic Configuration:
Fluorine has an atomic number of 9, and its electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p5. It has a completely filled 2s orbital and an incomplete 2p orbital with one electron in each of the three available 2p orbitals.
Atomic Structure:
The atomic structure of fluorine consists of a nucleus at the center, which contains 9 protons and 9 neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus are two energy levels or shells, with the first shell containing 2 electrons and the second shell containing 7 electrons.
Lack of d-orbitals:
Fluorine does not have any d-orbitals in its valence shell. The valence shell of an atom is the outermost shell that participates in chemical bonding. In the case of fluorine, the valence shell is the second shell, which contains 7 electrons in the 2s and 2p orbitals. Since the second shell does not have any d-orbitals, fluorine cannot accommodate any d-electrons.
Consequences:
The lack of d-orbitals in fluorine has several consequences that distinguish it from the rest of the halogens:
1. Size: Fluorine is the smallest halogen atom due to its smaller atomic radius. This is because the lack of d-orbitals results in a more compact electron cloud around the nucleus.
2. Electronegativity: Fluorine has the highest electronegativity among the halogens. This is because the lack of d-orbitals allows the 2p orbitals to be closer to the nucleus, leading to greater attraction for bonding electrons.
3. Bond Dissociation Energy: Fluorine has a higher bond dissociation energy compared to the other halogens. Bond dissociation energy is the energy required to break a bond in a molecule. The lack of d-orbitals in fluorine results in stronger bonds, making it more difficult to break them.
In summary, the lack of d-orbitals in fluorine's valence shell leads to its smaller size, higher electronegativity, and higher bond dissociation energy, which distinguish it from the rest of the halogens.