This word comes from the Greek and is formed by the prefix halo and the suffix geno. In its etymological sense it means “that produces salt”. The word halogen or halogen is presented in the dictionary with two meanings. The first refers to a series of chemical elements and the second serves to designate a type of headlamp used in driving vehicles.
Chemical elements that are integrated in the periodic table within the group of nonmetals and form group 17 of the periodic system
Halogens are fluorine, iodine, chromium, chlorine and astatine. In relation to their properties stand out the following: have seven electrons in its last level of energy and are especially electronegative and reactive, which is why generate oxidation. Halogen
On the other hand, when combined, they form binary salts (compounds formed by halogens and metals are called salts). These chemical elements also react with hydrogen to form hydrogen halides, which dissolve in water to form acidic dissociations. Halogens are found in the three states of matter at room temperature .
All over the planet, the elements of this group are not very abundant in nature and are normally found in the form of halide deposits (fluorine constitutes 0.065% of the total Earth’s crust).
Due to their properties, these substances and their different compounds are very useful in everyday life. They are used in the chemical industry , in water treatment, in the manufacture of plastics, in the pharmaceutical industry, in the textile industry and in the extraction of minerals. Halogen
Fluoride is found in toothpaste, chlorine is used in water treatment and swimming pool maintenance , bromine is used as an insecticide and iodine is one of the elements in table salt.
In the case of astatine, there is an element that does not yet have practical applications and is said to be the rarest chemical element in existence.
Curiosities about the astatine
Its symbol is At, its atomic number is 85, its atomic mass is 209,987, and its oxidation level is -1. It is a radioactive element and produced artificially, in 1940, at the Polytechnic Institute of Alabama, originally known by the term alabamine. Halogen
A lighting system for vehicles
Currently, halogen lamps are used in driving vehicles and have a similar function to traditional lamps.
Compared to the led or xenon system , this type of headlamp has a number of limitations: short lifespan, low light intensity and limited range of night vision.
