The Discovery Of Halogen Elements

Chlorine
In the 1700s, chemists believed that all acids contained oxygen atoms. Based on this, it is concluded that hydrochloric acid also contains oxygen. In 1774, a chemist named Scheele made a green gas from hydrochloric acid.

This green gas is not known to be composed of what elements. But chemists like Lavoisier believe that the gas produced from hydrochloric acid also contains oxygen. Even more than oxygen contained by hydrochloric acid.

But in 1810, the theory of acidic compounds definitely contained oxygen atoms proved to be untrue. A chemist named Davy points out that the green gas produced from hydrochloric acid contains a new element called chlorine.

Based on the discovery of the chlorine element by Davy, the definition of acidic compounds has changed.

Iodine
The discovery of iodine element is related to the healing of goiter.  Goiter is a disease caused by swelling of the thyroid gland located in the neck.

Since ancient times, people have believed that consuming a burnt sponge can treat goiter. Scientists want to know what substance is in the sponge so it can heal goiter. In fact, ingestion of entire sponge could also cause the side effect of severe stomach cramps.

It was not until 1819, a French chemist managed to find that the elements contained in the sponge so that it can cure goiter are iodine. To prevent cramps in the stomach, iodine is converted to potassium iodide which has no side effects if consumed.

Bromine
Bromine is the third element of the halogen group found. The inventor was a young German student named Carl Jacob Lowig. He is a student of the University of Heidelberg.

Initially, he researched about the mineral salts he took from his hometown. Lowig then reacts this mineral salt with chlorine. From the reaction, brown gas was produced which eventually is known as bromine.

To extract bromine from mineral salts, Lowig used diethyl ether compounds. Lowig managed to find the element of bromine in 1825.

With the discovery of the element of bromine, other chemists began to examine the nature of halogen elements. The results were found that chlorine, iodine, and bromine had similar properties. Between 1917 and 1829, German chemist Dobereiner devised the first periodic system known as the "triad Dobereiner".

Triad meaning is the three elements that have similar properties. One of the Dobereiner triads is chlorine, iodine, and bromine.

Fluorine
The discovery of the fluorine element is a very dramatic discovery. How not, fluorine is the most reactive nonmetallic element among other nonmetallic elements in the periodic system.

One of the most dangerous fluorine compounds is hydrogen fluoride. You may have seen the movie "Saw 6", where at the end of the story, someone was killed by putting hydrogen fluoride into his body. Hydrogen fluoride instantly makes her body melt. So scary!

The dangers of hydrogen fluoride do not just happen in movies, but also in the real world. At least, there are two chemists who died by inhaling hydrogen fluoride vapors. While many other chemists suffer for life by inhaling hydrogen fluoride vapors. hydrogen fluoride gas can cause severe damage to the lungs.

Fluorine was discovered by a French chemist Henri Moissan and assisted by a laboratory assistant where he worked, named Leonie Lugan.

Moissen made an electrolysis device to synthesize fluorine, in 1899. Thanks to the discovery of the fluorine element he performed, Moissen was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Unfortunately, he also died and allegedly due to hydrogen fluoride poisoning.

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