question_answer

  Describe the following about halogens : (a) Relative oxidizing power of halogens.                                                                                                                              1 (b) Relative acidic strength of hydrogen halides.                                                                                                                1 (c) Formation of oxoacids of halogens and the structure of oxoacids of chlorine only.                                      1

Answer:

                  (a) Oxidizing power of halogens: A halogen of lower atomic number will oxidize halide ion of higher atomic                 number and therefore will liberate from their salt solution.                 (b) As the size of halogen increases the inter nuclear forces decreases, thus the acidity increases.                 (c) This can be explained on the basis of Lowry Bronsted concept. According to this concept, a strong acid has a weak conjugate base and weak acid has a strong conjugate base. The conjugate basis of the oxyacids of chlorine is shown below:                                                                                                                                                                   Let us consider the stabilities of the conjugate bases, formed from these acids.