The Hidden Power of Halogens – Understanding Group 17 Elements When you hear the word halogen , you might not feel any excitement at first. But these elements, hidden in Group 17 of the periodic table, are some of the most fascinating, dangerous, and useful substances on Earth. From the fluoride in your toothpaste to the chlorine that keeps swimming pools clean, halogens are all around us — changing lives, saving lives, and sometimes even threatening them. Let’s take a deeper, human look into these elements and uncover what makes them so unique. What Makes Group 17 So Special? Group 17 contains a lineup of nonmetals known as halogens. The group includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine — and a very rare artificial member, tennessine. What binds them together is not just their position on the periodic table, but their desperate need for one more electron. That’s right. All halogens have seven electrons in their outermost shell, and they want eight. This mis...
The Hidden Power of Halogens – Understanding Group 17 Elements When you hear the word halogen , you might not feel any excitement at first. But these elements, hidden in Group 17 of the periodic table, are some of the most fascinating, dangerous, and useful substances on Earth. From the fluoride in your toothpaste to the chlorine that keeps swimming pools clean, halogens are all around us — changing lives, saving lives, and sometimes even threatening them. Let’s take a deeper, human look into these elements and uncover what makes them so unique. What Makes Group 17 So Special? Group 17 contains a lineup of nonmetals known as halogens. The group includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine — and a very rare artificial member, tennessine. What binds them together is not just their position on the periodic table, but their desperate need for one more electron. That’s right. All halogens have seven electrons in their outermost shell, and they want eight. This mis...