Interhalogen Interhalogen An interhalogen compound is a molecule which contains two or more different halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or astatine) and no atoms of elements from any other group. Most interhalogen compounds known are binary (composed of only two distinct elements). Their formulae are generally XY, where "n" = 1, 3, 5 or 7, and X is the less electronegative of the two halogens. They are all prone to hydrolysis, and ionize to give rise to polyhalogen ions. Those formed with astatine have a very short half-life due to astatine being intensely radioactive. No interhalogen compounds containing three or
Biological aspects of fluorine Biological aspects of fluorine Biological aspects of fluorine describes the effects of fluorine-containing compounds with life. Fluorine (F) itself is very rare in everyday life, but hundreds of fluorine-containing compounds occur as minerals, medicines, pesticides, and materials. Naturally occurring organofluorine compounds are extremely rare. Nonetheless, twenty percent of all commercialized pharmaceuticals contain fluorine, examples being Lipitor and Prozac. Manmade fluorinated compounds have also played a role in several noteworthy environmental concerns. Chlorofluorocarbons, once major components of numerous commercial aerosol products, have proven damaging to Earth's ozone layer and resulted in the wide-reaching Montreal Protocol (though in truth the chlorine in