Question:medium

All the metal halides have negative enthalpies of formation. Arrange the following halides from most to least negative enthalpy of formation:
(A) Fluoride,
(B) Chloride,
(C) Bromide,
(D) Iodide

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Enthalpy of formation is the energy released when one mole of a compound is formed from its elements in their standard states. The smaller ions have stronger electrostatic forces of attraction, which leads to greater lattice energy and higher negative enthalpy of formation.
Updated On: Jan 17, 2026
  • (A), (C), (B), (D)
  • (A), (B), (C), (D)
  • (D), (B), (C), (A)
  • (A), (B), (D), (C)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The enthalpy of formation of metal halides primarily correlates with lattice energy, defined as the energy released during solid lattice formation from constituent ions.
• Fluoride (F-): Being the smallest halide ions, fluorides exhibit high lattice energy, leading to the most negative enthalpy of formation with metals.
• Chloride (Cl-): Larger than fluoride, chloride ions possess a lower lattice energy than fluorides but higher than other halides, resulting in a less negative enthalpy of formation.
• Bromide (Br-): Larger than chloride, bromide ions yield an even smaller lattice energy and a proportionally less negative enthalpy of formation.
• Iodide (I-): As the largest halide ions, iodides demonstrate the smallest lattice energy, leading to the least negative enthalpy of formation.
Consequently, the enthalpy of formation, from most to least negative, follows the order: Fluoride > Chloride > Bromide > Iodide.

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