Question

Predict the nature of the products of the reaction of Fr with chlorine.
Express your answer as a chemical equation.

Answer 1

Francium is a radioactive alkali metal belonging to Group 1 of the periodic table. The electronic configuration of Fr is [Rn]7s¹; it has one electron in its outermost orbit that can be easily lost to form Fr⁺.

When Fr is treated with chlorine, Cl, then an alkali chloride is formed. The nature of the salt formed is similar to common table salt (NaCl) or KCl. The balanced chemical reaction is

2 Fr + Cl₂ --------> 2 FrCl

In terms of electron loss or gain, the reaction can be shown as

Fr ------> Fr⁺ + e^-

Cl₂ + 2 e^- ------> 2 Cl^-

Fr⁺ + Cl^- -------> FrCl