Hi, i am stuck on this question, how do I go about answering it?
why are fluorine atoms normally found as part of fluorine molecules?
Each F atom has seven (7) electrons in the outside shell. The two atom share a par of electrons giving each an octet. Thus F2 is more stable than F.
To answer why fluorine atoms are normally found as part of fluorine molecules, we need to consider the properties and behavior of fluorine atoms.
Fluorine is a highly reactive element and has a strong tendency to gain one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration. It has seven valence electrons, meaning it needs only one additional electron to fill its outer electron shell (which can hold a total of eight electrons).
When fluorine atoms come together to form a fluorine molecule (F2), they share a pair of electrons through a covalent bond. This allows each fluorine atom to complete its octet by sharing an electron with the other atom, resulting in a stable configuration. By sharing electrons, both fluorine atoms achieve a more stable electron configuration, similar to the noble gas neon (which has eight valence electrons and is considered highly stable). The shared electron pair forms a covalent bond, which holds the two fluorine atoms together in the molecule.
So, in summary, fluorine atoms are normally found as part of fluorine molecules because by forming covalent bonds with each other, they can achieve a stable electron configuration with a complete outer shell of eight electrons.