halógenos

Halógenos refers to the elements in Group 17 of the periodic table. This group includes fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At). These elements are characterized by their high reactivity and tendency to form salts when they react with metals, which is how they got their name, derived from the Greek words "hals" meaning salt and "gennan" meaning to produce.

In their elemental form, halogens exist as diatomic molecules, meaning they consist of two atoms bonded together. For instance, fluorine exists as F₂, chlorine as Cl₂, and so on. Their physical properties vary significantly within the group. Fluorine is a pale yellow gas, chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas, bromine is a reddish-brown liquid, and iodine is a dark purple solid that sublimes readily. Astatine is a rare radioactive element and its properties are less well-studied, but it is thought to be a solid.

Halogens are nonmetals and are the most electronegative elements in their respective periods, with fluorine being the most electronegative element of all. This high electronegativity means they readily gain one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming a halide ion with a charge of -1. This characteristic makes them strong oxidizing agents. They are widely used in various applications, including disinfectants (chlorine, iodine), refrigerants and plastics (fluorine compounds), and photography (bromine and iodine compounds).