[DavieBoy]

Hi

I'm new to this forum, I've joined as I need a bit of help to make sure something I've written for an essay sounds ok.  Would someone mind please reading the first few lines of my essay to make sure what I am writting is actually correct, much appreciated, thanks... Dave (text to proof read is shown below)

"The halide family are a group of elements that are of similar size and shape, which consist of Iodine, fluorine, bromine and chlorine.  In their non-elemental (or compound form) they form various types of iodide(s), fluoride(s), bromide(s) and chloride(s).  Their sizes/shapes similarities mean they compete for same receptors within the body that are used to capture iodine/iodide; halides therefore compete for absorption.  Iodine/Iodide and chloride are the minerals that have a healing and therapeutic affect within the body whilst fluoride and bromide are toxic."

[tamim83]

You may not want to say that halides have similar sizes, they don't.  The atomic/ionic radius increases as you move down the group.  What they do have in common is that they all form anions with a -1 charge since they have similar valence electron configurations.  This may be why they can attach to similar receptors within the body (I am not certain on this since I am not a biochemist). 

Your second sentence may be revised by saying that "Halides exist in the -1 oxidation state in binary ionic compounds" 

[Jorriss]

As Tamim said, they aren't the same sizes.

Fluorine is Rhode Island and Iodine is Texas.

[DavieBoy]

wow, that does sound quite complicated, but many thanks for the correction and the info, I'll put something like that in.

cheers guys
Dave