Which statement best describes halogens?

Which statement best describes halogens?

• A. Noble gas family in group 18 of the periodic table.
• B. Family of highly reactive nonmetals found in group 17 of the periodic table.
• C. A mixture of two or more metals.
• D. The shell in which an electron moves around the nucleus of an atom.

Answer: (B)

Halogens are a family of highly reactive nonmetals found in group 17 of the periodic table. They have seven valence electrons, so they readily gain one electron to complete an octet, which makes them very reactive, especially with alkali metals to form salts. In elemental form, they typically exist as diatomic molecules such as F2 and Cl2, and their reactivity remains high across the group. This description fits the statement that identifies halogens as the reactive nonmetal family in group 17. The other descriptions refer to a different group of elements (noble gases), a metal alloy, or a concept about electron orbitals, none of which define halogens.

Halogens are a family of highly reactive nonmetals found in group 17 of the periodic table. They have seven valence electrons, so they readily gain one electron to complete an octet, which makes them very reactive, especially with alkali metals to form salts. In elemental form, they typically exist as diatomic molecules such as F2 and Cl2, and their reactivity remains high across the group. This description fits the statement that identifies halogens as the reactive nonmetal family in group 17. The other descriptions refer to a different group of elements (noble gases), a metal alloy, or a concept about electron orbitals, none of which define halogens.