M4 The Periodic Table: Halogens
Slide 31 of 45
Reactivity
As with group 1 metals, halogens will also undergo the process that is easier.
While for group 1 metals it was easier for them to lose 1 electrons instead of gaining 7, for halogens, it is easier for them to gain 1 electrons instead of losing 7!!
Not only that remember that the electrons in the different shells in an atom are attracted by the protons in the nucleus and the strength with which they are attracted is different for electrons in different shells.
–The closer the shell is to the nucleus, the more strongly the electrons in it are attracted by the nucleus and therefore the more reactive the halogen.