Halogenation

/ˌhæloʊdʒəˈneɪʃən/ noun

Definition

A chemical reaction in which halogen atoms are introduced into a molecule.

Etymology

From 'halogenate' + '-tion' (noun suffix). Established as a key term in organic chemistry during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Kelly Says

Halogenation is one of chemistry's fundamental reactions, and the mechanism varies wildly depending on conditions—sunlight can trigger free radical halogenation (explosively reactive), while other conditions allow controlled additions, showing how chemistry is as much art as science.

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