Why is chlorine more reactive than iodine?

Answer 1

Chlorine has a higher effective nuclear charge, and therefore should be more oxidizing than iodine.

Since chlorine's nuclear charge is less protected from outside electrons, chlorine gas ought to be a more effective oxidant.

Since scientists must use quantitative data, we should look to reduction potentials. Here's what we find:

#1/2Cl_2 + e^(-) rarr Cl^-# #E^@ = 1.36#

#1/2I_2 + e^(-) rarr I^-# #E^@ = 0.54#

In what way does this align with the stated proposition?

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Answer 2

Olivia Anton

In addition to having a lower atomic mass than iodine and a higher electronegativity, which results in stronger interatomic forces and a greater tendency to gain electrons during chemical reactions, chlorine is more reactive than iodine because its outermost electron shell is less shielded by inner electron shells than iodine's, making it more accessible for bonding and reaction.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.