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Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry

Topic 11
Group 17

Topic 11 covers the colours, volatility and bond strengths of chlorine, bromine and iodine, their relative reactivity as oxidising agents including the reactions with hydrogen and the thermal stability of the hydrogen halides, the halide ions as reducing agents with silver ions, ammonia and concentrated sulfuric acid, and the disproportionation reactions of chlorine with cold and hot sodium hydroxide and in water purification.

Exam Papers
Papers 1 & 2
9701 AS Level
Learning Outcomes
11.1 – 11.4
10 outcomes covered
Sub-topics
4 lessons
Revision notes available
Exam Board
Cambridge
9701 (2025 onwards)

Revision Notes

4 revision notes, in the order the specification teaches them.

Summary Map

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Summary map

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Group 17 Map

Cambridge International AS & A Level Chemistry · Topic 11 Group 17

The whole section on one A4 page: physical trends, displacement, hydrogen halides, chlorine disproportionating, halides with H₂SO₄, and silver nitrate tests.

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Specification

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11.1.1

  1. a

    describe the colours of chlorine, bromine and iodine

    Revise
  2. b

    describe the trend in volatility of chlorine, bromine and iodine

    Revise

11.1.2

  1. a

    describe the trend in the bond strength of the halogen molecules

    Revise
  2. b

    explain the trend in the bond strength of the halogen molecules

    Revise

11.1.3

  1. 11.1.3

    interpret the volatility of the elements in terms of instantaneous dipole–induced dipole forces

    Revise

11.2.1

  1. 11.2.1

    describe the relative reactivity of the elements as oxidising agents

    Revise

11.2.2

  1. a

    describe the reactions of the elements with hydrogen

    Revise
  2. b

    explain the relative reactivity of the elements in their reactions with hydrogen

    Revise

11.2.3

  1. a

    describe the relative thermal stabilities of the hydrogen halides

    Revise
  2. b

    explain the relative thermal stabilities of the hydrogen halides in terms of bond strengths

    Revise

11.3.1

  1. 11.3.1

    describe the relative reactivity of halide ions as reducing agents

    Revise

11.3.2

  1. a i

    describe and explain the reactions of halide ions with aqueous silver ions

    Revise
  2. a ii

    describe and explain the reactions of the silver halide precipitates with aqueous ammonia (the formation and formula of the [Ag(NH3)2]+ complex is not required)

    Revise
  3. b

    describe and explain the reactions of halide ions with concentrated sulfuric acid, to include balanced chemical equations

    Revise

11.4.1

  1. a

    describe and interpret, in terms of changes in oxidation number, the reaction of chlorine with cold aqueous sodium hydroxide

    Revise
  2. b

    describe and interpret, in terms of changes in oxidation number, the reaction of chlorine with hot aqueous sodium hydroxide

    Revise
  3. c

    recognise the reactions of chlorine with cold and with hot aqueous sodium hydroxide as disproportionation reactions

    Revise

11.4.2

  1. 11.4.2

    explain, including by use of an equation, the use of chlorine in water purification to include the production of the active species HOCl and ClO– which kill bacteria

    Revise