Question

Which among the following is the most reactive?
A. $C{{l}_{2}}$
B. $B{{r}_{2}}$
C. ${{I}_{2}}$
D. $ICl$

Answer 1

If the molecule is polar in nature then the compound is highly reactive. The polarity in the compound is due to the presence of high electronegativity and less electronegativity of the atoms in it.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked to find the highly reactive molecule among the given options.
- We know that generally homo diatomic molecules don’t have polarity because the atoms in the homo diatomic molecules are the same. Then their electronegativity values are also the same.
- If the electronegativity of the atoms are the same in homo diatomic molecules then polarity is also zero.
- If there is no polarity in the compound or in the molecules then those molecules are not reactive.
- Coming to the given options, option A, B and C contains Chlorine, Bromine, and Iodine. All these three molecules are homo diatomic molecules. Then they are not reactive.
- Coming to option D, $ICl$. The iodine and chlorine have differences in their electronegativity values then the compound ICl is polar in nature.
- Means $ICl$ is highly reactive when compared to the remaining molecules given in the options.
So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: Don’t be confused with polar and nonpolar molecules. If a molecule contains different atoms with different electronegativity values then the compound is called polar in nature. If a molecule contains the same atoms with same electronegativity values then the molecule is called non-polar in nature.