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Diatomic Molecules

Group 7 has diatomic atoms/molecules:
--so there's ZnF2 (Fluorine is diatomic)
--I think there is an NaF2? (am I right?)
--there's CaBr2 (Bromine is diatomic),
but why isn't there a NaCl2 when chlorine is diatomic???

Reply 1

BTAnonymous

no, chlorine is an ion in NaCl, not a molecule.

Na and Cl bond via ionic bonding - the coulomb attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Na forms Na plus ions whereas Cl forms Cl- ions. You can look at it as this way:

Na --> Naplus e-
Cl2 e- --> 0.5Cl-

the Na ion and Cl- ions attract because they are oppositely charged. The charge of NaCl is 0 hence the charges cancel out ( 1-1=0)

if it was aluminium however, it would be AlCl3 because Al forms Al3plus ions so you need 3 Cl- ions to balance the charge out to 0.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 2

BTAnonymous

Original post by ASJ_12

also, the bromine in CaBr2 is not diaatomic. it's simply showing that there are two bromine ions for every calcium

I think your understanding of molecules and ions is very misunderstood.