Which of the following represents correct order of oxidising power of halogens with water?

Step-by-step solution

Whenever one of the halogens is involved in oxidising a species in solution, the halogen is reduced to a halide ion associated with water molecules. The following reactions illustrate this process ^ F ₂(g)+2 e⁻ 2 ~F ⁻(a q) aligned & Cl ₂(g)+2 e⁻ 2 Cl ⁻(a q) & Br ₂(l)+2 e⁻ 2 Br ⁻(a q) & I ₂(g)+2 e⁻ 2 I ⁻(a q) aligned Smaller the size of ion, higher is the energy released when the ion is hydrated. Since, the size of ions increases in the order F ⁻ Cl ⁻(a q)> Br ⁻(a q)> I ⁻(a q) Because of very high hydration enthalpy