“All in the Family” Properties of Halogens

In every family there are similarities and differences. The same is true in chemical families as well. Elements that share similar chemical properties are arranged in vertical columns, called groups or families, in the modern periodic table. For example, the Group 17 elements, consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine, are called the halogens. What are the similarities and differences in the chemical properties of the halogens and their compounds?