Explain why fluorine is reactive

  • Fluorine is a halogen, these group 7 elements are reactive because they require just 1 additional electron to achieve a noble configuration. 

  • Fluorine is the smallest halogen, and so its outer electrons are closer to the charge dense nucleus, making it easier for the nucleus to attract electrons to it.

  • Fluorine is the most electronegative element in the periodic table, meaning it has a strong tendency to draw electrons towards it (hence it is able to form compounds with most other elements)

GL
Answered by George L. Chemistry tutor

6494 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

State the trend in electronegativity for the elements of group 17 and explain why this trend occurs.


How does the anticancer agent cisplatin work?


Explain what happens to the boiling and solubility of alcohols as their chain length increases


How does a change in temperature affect the Kc value when the forward reaction is exothermic?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning