The Halogens

The Halogens are elements of Group VIIA of the periodic table. it consists of five elements: fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At). They are called halogens (Greek - sea-salt formers) in reference to the fact that chlorine, bromine and iodine occur in the sea as salts.

They are the highest electronegative group with 7 electrons in their outermost shells, thereby having 1 electron left to make their outermost shells complete (thus, to be isoelectronic with the noble gases, they ionize by gaining 1 electron).

Cl + e^- → Cl^-

They are the most active family of non- metals, and fluorine is the most active of all non-metallic elements.