Question

Interhalogen compounds are covalent due to ________.

Answer 1

Hint: When one halogen atom combines with the other halogen atom by forming a chemical bond, then the compound formed is termed as Interhalogen compound. Most of the interhalogen compounds are binary i.e., they are composed of two distinct components.

Complete answer:
Covalent Bond: It is a chemical bond in which mutual sharing of electrons takes place between the atoms. If the electronegativity difference between the atoms is less than \[0.4\], then the bond is pure covalent in nature. If the electronegativity difference between the atoms lies in the range of \[0.4\] and \[1.8\], then the bond is said to be polar covalent.
For interhalogen compounds, the difference in the electronegativity of the atoms is between the range of \[0.4\] and \[1.8\]. Therefore, the bonding between the atoms of the compound is polar covalent in nature. Due to polarity and weak covalent bonding, the interhalogen compounds are highly reactive as compared to di-halogen compounds.
Some examples of interhalogen compounds are: \[ClF,\,Br{F_3},\,Br{F_5},\,I{F_7},\] etc.
Hence, the Interhalogen compounds are covalent in nature due to low electronegativity difference between the atoms.

Additional information-
In interhalogen compounds, halogen atom with larger size will always be the central atom of the compound because as the size of halogen atoms increases, the electronegativity decreases and thus will easily donate its electrons to more electronegative halogen atom to form compound.

Note:
Electronegativity: It is the property of an atom or element to attract an electron towards itself. For a bond to be ionic, the electronegativity difference between the atoms must be greater than \[1.8\]. Other than electronegativity difference, Fajan’s rule is the most commonly used method to predict the type of bonding between the atoms in a compound.