Halide

A halide is a binary compound, of which one part is a halogen atom and the other part is an element or radical that is less electronegative than the halogen. Many salts are halides. All Group 1 metals form halides with the halogens and they are white solids.

Metal halides are used in high-intensity discharge lamps called metal halide lamps, such as those used in modern street lights. These are more energy-efficient than mercury-vapor lamps, and have much better colour rendition than orange high-pressure sodium lamps.

Alkyl halides are common organic compounds of the type R-X, containing an alkyl group R covalently bonded to a halogen X.

A halide ion is a halogen atom bearing a negative ion, such as fluoride ion (F^-) or chloride ion (Cl^-). Such ions are present in all ionic halide salts.

Pseudohalides resemble halides in their charge and reactivity; common examples are NNN-, CNO-, CN-, etc.

Examples

• sodium chloride (NaCl)
• fluorine chloride (FCl)
• potassium iodide (KI)
• lithium chloride (LiCl)
• copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂)
• Bromomethane (CH₃Br)
• Iodoform (CHI₃)

See also

• Halocarbon
• Alkyl halide
• Halogen derivative