1. Fluorine form two oxygen compounds F2O and F2O2. These compounds are not called oxides but oxygen fluorides as fluorine is more electronegative than oxygen. The compounds of the rest of the halogens are termed as oxides.
2. Halogens and oxygen do not combine readily with each other. The oxides of halogens are obtained indirectly.
3. The important compounds of the halogens are listed below.
In these compounds, except fluorine (-1, oxidation state) all the other halogens have positive oxidation states.
4. Most of the halogen oxides are unstable and tend to explode when kept an standing or exposure to light.
5. The iodine oxides are the most stable than chlorine oxides, but all the oxides of bromine decompose below the room temperature. The higher oxidation states are more to stable than the lower oxidation states.
6. Oxygen fluorides do not form oxo acids. The oxides of other halogens are acidic. Acidic nature increases as the percentage of oxygen increases, i.e, Cl2O is less acidic than Cl2O7.
7. All oxides are good oxidising agent. I2O5 is a very good oxidising agent.
