Question

Why are inter-halogen compounds more reactive than the corresponding elemental halogens?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Bond between two dissimilar halogen atoms is weaker than the bond between two similar halogen atoms. The lower bond dissociation energy in the inter-halogen com pound makes them more reactive. It is due to less effective overlapping of atomic orbitals of two different halogen atoms than between similar atoms. In other words, X-Y bond is weaker than X-X and Y-Y bonds.

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