Concept in Definition ABC

This word comes from the Greek and is formed by the prefix halo and the suffix geno. In its etymological sense it means "that produces salt". The word halogen is presented in the dictionary with two meanings. The first refers to a series of chemical elements and the second is used to designate a type of headlight used for driving vehicles.

Chemical elements that are integrated in the periodic table within the group of nonmetals and form group 17 of the periodic system

The halogens are fluorine, iodine, chromium, chlorine, and astatine. Regarding their properties, the following stand out: they present seven electrons in their last level of Energy and they are especially electronegative and very reactive, so they generate oxidation.

On the other hand, when combined they form you go out binary (compounds formed by halogens and metals are called salts). These chemical elements also react with hydrogen to form hydrogen alides, which dissolve in water to form acid cleavages. TO temperature halogens are found in all three states of matter.

In the planet as a whole, the elements of this group are not very abundant in nature and are normally found in the form of halide deposits (fluorine constitutes 0.065% of the total of the Earth crust).

Due to their properties, these substances and their different compounds are very useful in everyday life. They are used in the chemical industry, in water treatment, in manufacturing of plastics, in the pharmaceutical industry, in the textile industry or in the extraction of minerals.

Fluoride is found in toothpaste, chlorine is used in water treatment and in maintenance In swimming pools, bromine is used as an insecticide and iodine is one of the elements in table salt.

In the case of the astatine, an element is observed that still does not have practical applications and it is stated that it is the chemical element rarest there is.

Some curiosities about the astatine

Its symbol is At, its atomic number is 85, its atomic mass is 209,987 amu, and its oxidation level is -1. It is a radioactive element and was artificially produced in 1940 at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute and was originally known by the term alabamine.

A lighting system for vehicles

Halogen lamps are still used today in driving vehicles. These have a functioning similar to traditional bulbs.

On comparison With the led or xenon system, this type of headlamp has a number of limitations: short life span, low light intensity and a limited range of night vision.