Halogens have what type of charge?

Halogens typically have a charge of -1 because they are highly electronegative and readily gain an electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration. The halogen group consists of elements like fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine, all of which have seven valence electrons. By gaining one electron, they complete their outer shell with eight electrons, similar to the noble gases, which is a stable arrangement.

This tendency to gain electrons and form -1 anions is fundamental to the chemistry of halogens. For instance, when sodium, which has a tendency to lose an electron, reacts with chlorine, chlorine gains an electron to become Cl⁻, illustrating the halogens' common -1 charge. The other charge options do not accurately represent the behavior of halogens in chemical reactions, where they act as electron acceptors rather than donors.