Halide

In chemistry, a halide (rarely halogenide[1]) is a binary chemical compound, of which one part is a halogen atom and the other part is an element or radical that is less electronegative (or more electropositive) than the halogen, to make a fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, astatide, or theoretically tennesside compound.

The alkali metals combine directly with halogens under appropriate conditions forming halides of the general formula, MX (X = F, Cl, Br or I).

[3] Halides cannot be reduced under the usual laboratory conditions, but they all can be oxidized to the parent halogens, which are diatomic.

Halide salts such as KCl, KBr and KI are highly soluble in water to give colorless solutions.

Metal halide lamps are also commonly used in greenhouses or in rainy climates to supplement natural sunlight.