kloridiryhmään

Kloridiryhmän, also known as the chlorine group, refers to the set of chemical elements that constitute Group 17 of the periodic table. These elements share a common characteristic of having seven valence electrons, meaning they have one electron less than a full outer electron shell. This electron configuration makes them highly reactive, particularly in gaining a single electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, similar to that of noble gases.

The elements in the kloridiryhmän are fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At). Tennessine (Ts) is also placed in this group, although its chemical properties are less understood due to its extreme radioactivity and short half-life. Fluorine is the most electronegative element, meaning it has the strongest tendency to attract electrons. As one moves down the group, electronegativity decreases, and atomic size increases.

These elements are commonly known as halogens, a term derived from Greek words meaning "salt-former," owing to their tendency to form salts when reacting with metals. For example, common table salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). Halogens exist in various states at room temperature: fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine and astatine are solids. They also exhibit distinct colors, ranging from pale yellow for fluorine to violet for iodine. Their reactivity and the properties of their compounds make them essential in numerous industrial and biological processes, including water purification, disinfectants, and the formation of vital biomolecules.