Question

In halogens, fluorine has fewer electrons and a weaker dispersion force as compared to iodine. Which statement is true regarding fluorine and iodine?

A.
Fluorine is a gas and iodine is a solid at room temperature.
B.
Fluorine is liquid and iodine is gas at room temperature.
C.
Both fluorine and iodine are gases at room temperature.
D.
Both fluorine and iodine are solids at room temperature.
E.
Fluorine is solid and iodine is liquid at room temperature.

Answer 1

Answer : Option A) Fluorine is a gas and iodine is a solid at room temperature.

Explanation : With the given information it is known that the weaker force is less stable to hold its molecule together. This makes to assume that one substance may be solid and the other might be liquid or gaseous.

But, experimentally fluorine exists in gaseous state and iodine is a solid at room temperature.

The dispersion force in fluorine is weaker as it has less electrons as compared to that of iodine.

Answer 2

Fluorine and other halogens are diatomic in nature which means atoms should be paired to each other so as to exist in nature. Generally, diatomic halogens exist as gas to the exception of iodine because of its large molecular weight. Iodine exists as liquid at room temperature and pressure.