After all the halide ions have the same electron configuration as the noble gases, so they should have similar properties…
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A halide ion has a negative charge as it has one less proton in the nucleus. Even though the electron configuration is the same as the adjacent noble gas. So its going to react differently.
Chiefly it’s going to pair up with any positive ions around. Additionally, although not fully ionized, many molecules have centres with more or less electrons than the formal sharing picture would suggest. Water, for instance, has an oxygen atom which drags in a little more than its fair share, leaving the hydrogens with a small deficit and therefore a small positive charge. The picture of ions as lone F^- Cl^- and so on is very much a simplification particularly when solvents are concerned.
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