Question

what is the atomicity of fluorine in its molecule?

Answer 1

Atomicity:

• Atomicity is defined as the number of atoms present in a molecule,
• For example, Water (${\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{O}$) contains two atoms of hydrogen ($\mathbf{H}$) and one atom of oxygen ($\mathbf{O}$) and hence its atomicity is 2+1 = 3 i.e. triatomic.

Therefore, atomicity refers to the number of atoms in the molecule.

Fluorine molecule:

• Fluorine is a chemical element with chemical symbol $\mathbf{F}$ and atomic number 9.
• It is the lightest halogen and exists as a pale-yellow diatomic gas. It is highly toxic and the most electronegative element.
• It belongs to the halogen family of group 17 of the periodic table, hence having 7 electrons in its valence shell.
• However, because of having high electronegativity it completes its octet when two atoms of fluorine form covalent bond with each other which results into the formation of a linear ${\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{2}}$ molecule.

• Since, a molecule of fluorine contains 2 fluorine atoms, therefore its atomicity is 2.

Thus, the atomicity of fluorine in its molecule is 2.