Which of the following is an incorrect statement ?

Options

A. Fluorine is highly reactive
B. HF molecules form intermolecular H-bond
C. Halogens show only (-I) oxidation state
D. Halogens are strong oxidizing agent

Answer

To determine which of the following statements is incorrect, we will analyze each statement one by one:

1. **Statement 1**: Fluorine is the most electronegative element.
- **Analysis**: Fluorine is indeed the most electronegative element in the periodic table, with an electronegativity value of 4.0. This statement is true.

2. **Statement 2**: The reactivity of fluorine is very high.
- **Analysis**: Due to its small atomic size and high electronegativity, fluorine is highly reactive. This statement is also true.

3. **Statement 3**: Halogens show only a -1 oxidation state.
- **Analysis**: This statement is incorrect. While fluorine typically exhibits a -1 oxidation state, other halogens (like chlorine, bromine, and iodine) can exhibit multiple oxidation states, including positive states (e.g., +1, +3, +5, +7). Therefore, this statement is false.

4. **Statement 4**: Halogens are strong oxidizing agents.
- **Analysis**: Halogens, particularly fluorine and chlorine, are indeed strong oxidizing agents due to their high electronegativity and reduction potential. This statement is true.

**Conclusion**: The incorrect statement is Statement 3, which claims that halogens show only a -1 oxidation state.