Question

Fluorine (F) and bromine (Br) are in the same group on the periodic table. How do atoms of these elements compare when they form bonds?

Both a fluorine atom and a bromine atom lose one electron, and both atoms become stable.
A fluorine atom becomes stable by losing one electron, but a bromine atom cannot become stable by losing only one electron.
Both a fluorine atom and a bromine atom gain one electron, and both atoms become stable.
A fluorine atom becomes stable by gaining one electron, but a bromine atom cannot become stable by gaining only one electron.

Answer 1

Both a fluorine atom and a bromine atom gain one electron, and both atoms become stable.

Reason: Fluorine and bromine are in group 17, so each has seven valence electrons and needs one more to complete an octet. In reactions they commonly gain one electron (forming F− and Br−) or share one electron pair in covalent bonds to achieve a stable electron configuration.