What is the highest oxidation state exhibited by group 17 elements ?

Options

A. `+1`
B. `+3`
C. `+5`
D. `+7`

Answer

To determine the highest oxidation state exhibited by group 17 elements (the halogens), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Group 17 Elements**:
- The elements in group 17 (the halogens) include fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).

2. **Understand the Common Oxidation States**:
- Halogens typically exhibit a common oxidation state of -1. This is due to their tendency to gain one electron to achieve a stable noble gas configuration.

3. **Explore Higher Oxidation States**:
- While the -1 oxidation state is common, some halogens can exhibit positive oxidation states. Chlorine, bromine, and iodine can have multiple oxidation states:
- Chlorine can show +1, +3, +5, and +7.
- Bromine can show +1, +3, +5.
- Iodine can show +1, +3, +5, and +7.

4. **Determine the Highest Oxidation State**:
- Among the halogens, iodine exhibits the highest oxidation state of +7. This is seen in compounds like iodine pentafluoride (IF5) and iodine heptafluoride (IF7).

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the highest oxidation state exhibited by group 17 elements is +7.

### Final Answer:
The highest oxidation state exhibited by group 17 elements is +7.