Thermodynamics of the halogen-halide relationship

How easy is it, thermodynamically speaking, to convert the elemental halogens into free halogen atoms or free halide ions Consider first the conversion into atoms. 

A thermodynamic breakdown of the standard enthalpy change for the conversion of elemental halogens into halogen atoms at 25 °C. 

Column 5 of Table 6.4 gives the values of -E(X), and column 6 gives the result of adding them to the values of (X, g) in column 4. Again, the figures are not very different. 

Which gaseous halide ion is most readily formed from the elemental state  

Notice that this is true despite the higher electron affinity of chlorine again, it is a result of the weakness of the F—F bond. If the F—F and Cl—Cl bonds were equally strong, the answer would have been chlorine. 

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