At room temperature, in which states of matter do the halogens exist?

• A. Only solid
• B. Solid, liquid, and gas
• C. Only liquid
• D. Only gas

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that halogens are elements in Group 17 of the periodic table, including fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).
2. Understand that the physical state of an element at room temperature depends on its intermolecular forces and molecular structure.
3. Identify the states of halogens at room temperature: fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine and astatine are solids.
4. Recognize that this means halogens exist in all three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—at room temperature, depending on the specific element.
5. Therefore, the correct answer is that halogens exist as solids, liquids, and gases at room temperature.