Question

Which of the following is a false statement?
A.Halogens are strong oxidizing agents.
B.Halogens show only -1 oxidation state
C.$HF$ molecules form intermolecular hydrogen bonding
D.Fluorine is highly reactive

Answer 1

Halogens are group seventeen elements which are non-metallic in nature. They are highly reactive. They have seven electrons in their outermost shell and thus, gaining just one electron is very easy to complete the octet so they get easily reduced. Each halogen may have a different oxidation state.

Complete answer:
The group seventeen elements of the periodic table are known as halogens. They are non-metals with high reactivity due to high electronegativity and high effective nuclear charge. The halogen group contains Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine and Astatine which are all chemically related to each other. Fluorine gas is pale yellow in colour and it is the most reactive element.
They are highly reactive because they have seven electrons in the outermost shell and require one more electron to complete their octet. Thus, only one electron is needed and so it is attracted more readily making halogens more reactive as gaining only one electron is easier. As we know that while moving down the group the size of the elements increases and thus, reactivity decreases as the distance between the electrons and nucleus increases and the attraction between them decreases and becomes weaker making it difficult to gain an electron.
When halogens react with water they undergo reduction and act as oxidizing agents. They are insoluble in water because they are nonpolar and the Van der Waals forces dominate. The boiling point of the halogens increases down the group due to increasing strength of Van der Waals forces as size increases.
For the above given question,
As we know it is easier for halogens to gain electrons and due to high electronegativity the halogens easily get reduced and act as good oxidizing agents. Thus, option (A) is true
Fluorine has an oxidation state of -1 but other halogens show different oxidation states due to difference in their electronegativity which show that option (B) is false.
$HF$ molecules form intermolecular hydrogen bonding due to the large electronegativity difference between the two atoms therefore; option (C) is true.
As we know that amongst all the halogens, Fluorine is a highly reactive element due to very high reduction potential and thus, option (D) is true.

So, we conclude that option (B) is false.

Note:
The halogens are brittle and crumbly in solid state and are poor thermal and electrical conductors. When chlorine is added to water gives chlorine water which kills various germs present in water. The household bleach contains chlorine and is added to purify water. The water it is being added to must not be cloudy.