Why Don't Chlorine and Bromine Bond Together?

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SUMMARY

Chlorine and bromine can form covalent compounds, specifically bromine monochloride (BrCl). Both elements are highly electronegative, making it energetically unfavorable for them to lose electrons. Instead, they share electrons in covalent bonds, as seen in compounds like carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and methyl bromide (CH3Br). The discussion clarifies that while chlorine and bromine do not bond together readily, they can indeed form specific covalent compounds under certain conditions.

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  • Understanding of electronegativity and its effects on bonding
  • Knowledge of covalent bonding and molecular formation
  • Familiarity with ionization enthalpy and electron gain enthalpy
  • Basic chemistry concepts regarding halogens
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  • Research the properties and reactions of bromine monochloride (BrCl)
  • Study the formation and characteristics of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)
  • Explore the concept of electronegativity in detail
  • Investigate the role of energy in covalent bond formation
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Chemistry students, educators, and professionals interested in understanding halogen chemistry and covalent bonding principles.

Colin Cheng
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Why can't chlorine and bromine form a covalent compound?Colin
 
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They are highly electronegative. They can only accept electrons, but they can't lose them, as this would require a lot of energy. They have positive ionisation enthalpy value and negative electron gain enthalpy.
 
Last edited:
But chlorine, bromine, fluorine... They form molecules which are covalent too... I mean like Cl2, Br2...Colin
 
Yes, they do form covalent compounds, for example in CCl4, there are four covalent bonds, and in CH2Br, CH3Br, etc. I forgot that it's hard for them to lose electrons, but they can share them, as in Carbon tetrachloride.
 
So it also requires a lot energy when they form CH3Br and CH2Br?Colin
 
Colin Cheng said:
Why can't chlorine and bromine form a covalent compound?

They do, it is called bromine monochloride.
 
Oh I see thanks!Colin
 

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