Question

The halogens form a series of compounds with each other, which are called interhalogens. Examples are bromine chloride (BrCl), iodine bromide (IBr), bromine fluoride (BrF), and chlorine fluoride (ClF). Which is expected to have the lowest boiling point?

Answer 1

Chlorine fluoride is expected to have the lowest boiling point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Interhalogens have covalent bonds, and as such, the higher the difference in electronegativity, the higher the expected boiling point will be.

Looking at the Periodic Table of elements, we can see that in these four examples, the compound with the lowest electronegativity difference -and thus the lowest boiling point-, is chlorine fluoride, ClF.