Halogens oxidizing ability

The acid strengths and oxidizing abilities of the halogen oxoacids increase with the oxidation number of the halogen. The hypohalous acids, HXO (halogen oxidation number +1), are prepared by direct reaction of the halogen with water. For example, chlorine gas disproportionates in water to produce hypochlorous acid and hydrochloric acid ... 

The acid strengths and oxidizing abilities of the halogen oxoacids (Table 15.8) increase with the oxidation number of the halogen. The... 

Chlorine is more potent an oxidant than is bromine but less so than fluorine (Clifford, 1961a). Thus, chlorine is able to oxidize both bromide and iodide ions to Br2 and I2, respectively, whereas fluorine oxidizes chloride, bromide, and iodide to their corresponding halogens. The oxidizing ability of chlorine is the basis for the starch-iodide test for chlorine. Here, a mixture of potassium iodide, soluble starch, and zinc chloride produces a blue-violet color in the presence of chlorine. Unfortunately, and like many spot tests, this is a nonspecific test and gives a positive result with many oxidants, for example, bromine. 

The reactivity, toxicity, and oxidizing ability of the halogens decrease from fluorine to iodine. The halogens all form binary acids (HX) and a series of oxoacids. 

Figure 14.18 The relative oxidizing ability of the halogens. A, Halogen redox behavior is based on atomic properties such as electron affinity, ionic charge density, and electronegativity. A halogen (X2) higher in the group can oxidize a halide ion (X ) lower down. B, As an example, when aqueous CI2 is added to a solution of r (top layer), it oxidizes the r to l2, which dissolves in the CCI4 solvent (bottom layer) to give a purple solution.

Many of the reactions of halogens can be considered as either oxidation or displacement reactions the redox potentials (Table 11.2) give a clear indication of their relative oxidising power in aqueous solution. Fluorine, chlorine and bromine have the ability to displace hydrogen from hydrocarbons, but in addition each halogen is able to displace other elements which are less electronegative than itself. Thus fluorine can displace all the other halogens from both ionic and covalent compounds, for example... 

Halogens can act as ligands and are commonly found in complex ions the ability of fluorine to form stable complex ions with elements in high oxidation states has already been discussed (p. 316). However, the chlorides of silver, lead(Il) and mercury(l) are worthy of note. These chlorides are insoluble in water and used as a test for the metal, but all dissolve in concentrated hydrochloric acid when the complex chlorides are produced, i.e. [AgCl2] , [PbC ] and [Hg Clj]", in the latter case the mercury(I) chloride having also disproportionated. 

Metals in the platinum family are recognized for their ability to promote combustion at lowtemperatures. Other catalysts include various oxides of copper, chromium, vanadium, nickel, and cobalt. These catalysts are subject to poisoning, particularly from halogens, halogen and sulfur compounds, zinc, arsenic, lead, mercury, and particulates. It is therefore important that catalyst surfaces be clean and active to ensure optimum performance. 

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