Halogen
/ˈhæl.ə.dʒən/noun
Any of the highly reactive nonmetallic elements in group 17 of the periodic table.
Did you know?The term was coined in the early 1800s because chlorine, bromine, and iodine form salts when they react with metals, turning a laboratory observation into a name that still powers modern chemistry.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
grc
hals, halos
“salt”
Ancient Greek
grc
-genēs
“born of; producing”
Early 19th Century
English
halogene
“a salt-forming element”
19th Century
English
halogen
“the name standardized for the salt-forming elements”
Modern English
English
halogen
“any element in group 17 of the periodic table”
Explore more surprising origins