Halogens are described as which of the following?

• A. Highly reactive nonmetals that exist as gas, liquid, or solid
• B. Very reactive metals
• C. Noble gases
• D. Inert gases

Answer: (A)

Halogens are a family of elements in the periodic table that are highly reactive nonmetals. Their atoms have seven valence electrons, so they readily gain one electron to fill their outer shell, which drives their strong reactivity, especially with metals to form salts. They aren’t metals or inert/noble gases. Physically, they span all three states at room temperature: fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine (and astatine) are solids. This combination—very reactive nonmetals that can be gas, liquid, or solid—best describes halogens.