Why is chlorine more reactive than iodine?
1 Answer
Nov 8, 2016
Chlorine has a higher effective nuclear charge, and therefore should be more oxidizing than iodine.
Explanation:
The nuclear charge of chlorine is less shielded by intervening electrons. Thus chlorine gas should be a better oxidant.
If we turn to reduction potentials, which we should do as scientists because scientists must utilize quantitative data, we find:
How is this consistent with the given proposition?