Q.Give two examples to show the anomalous behaviour of fluorine.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Step 1: Recall why fluorine is "anomalous."
Fluorine is the first member of Group 17. Like other first-row p-block elements (Li, Be, B, C, N, O), it differs sharply from the rest of its group because of its very small atomic size, absence of d-orbitals in the valence shell, and highest electronegativity of all elements.
Step 2: Example 1 — abnormally high boiling point of HF.
Because F is small and intensely electronegative, the H–F bond is highly polar and HF molecules associate through strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding (even persisting as a zig-zag polymer, , in the liquid/vapour). The other hydrogen halides, with larger and less electronegative halogens, show no such association and remain gases at room temperature.
Step 3: Example 2 — fluorine shows only one oxidation state.
Chlorine, bromine and iodine show oxidation states from to (e.g. , ) because they have vacant -orbitals to expand their octet. Fluorine (n = 2) has no -orbitals available and is more electronegative than oxygen itself, so it can never show a positive oxidation state — it is restricted to and only.
Step 4: Other accepted examples (either pair is sufficient). …
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