halogen

[ hal-uh-juhn, -jen, hey-luh- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of the electronegative elements, fluorine, chlorine, iodine, bromine, and astatine, that form binary salts by direct union with metals.

halogen

/ həˈlɒdʒɪnəs; ˈhæləˌdʒɛn /

noun

1. any of the chemical elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They are all monovalent and readily form negative ions

halogen

/ hăl′ə-jən /

1. Any of a group of five nonmetallic elements with similar properties. The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Because they are missing an electron from their outermost shell, they react readily with most metals to form salts.
2. See Periodic Table

Derived Forms

• halogenous, adjective
• ˈhalogenˌoid, adjective

Other Words From

• ha·log·e·nous [ha-, loj, -, uh, -n, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of halogen¹

First recorded in 1835–45; halo- + -gen

Word History and Origins

Origin of halogen¹

C19: from Swedish; see halo- , -gen

Example Sentences

The light of halogen lamps is slightly more “whiteish” than incandescent lamps.

From The Daily Beast

There is a group of closely allied elements to which the name halogen (salt-producer) has been given.

From Project Gutenberg

Compounds containing oxides and fluorides, &c., do not lend themselves to the method of determining the halogen by difference.

From Project Gutenberg

We may, in fact, consider that the descriptive study of the various halogen compounds dates from about this time.

From Project Gutenberg

The same absorbent quantitatively takes up any halogen and sulphur which may be present.

From Project Gutenberg

The same as Method 1, except that after ignition of the saponified mixture the halogen was determined by weighing as silver iodid.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bleach
• disinfectant