<unk> s generally resemble the parent alkanes in being colorless, relatively odorless, and hydrophobic. The melting and boiling points of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoalkanes are higher than the analogous alkanes, scaling with the atomic weight and number of halides. This effect is due to the increased strength of the intermolecular forces—from London dispersion to dipole-dipole interaction because of the increased polarizability. Thus tetraiodomethane () is a solid whereas tetrachloromethane () is a liquid. Many fluoroalkanes, however, go against this trend and have lower melting and boiling points than their nonfluorinated analogues due to the decreased polarizability of fluorine. For example, methane () has a melting point of -182.5 °C whereas tetrafluoromethane () has a melting point of -183.6 °C. As they contain fewer C–H bonds,<unk> s are less flammable than alkanes, and some are used in fire extinguishers.<unk> s are better solvents than the corresponding alkanes because of their increased polarity.<unk> s containing halogens other than fluorine are more reactive than the parent alkanes—it is this reactivity that is the basis of most controversies. Many are alkylating agents, with primary<unk> s and those containing heavier halogens being the most active (fluoroalkanes do not act as alkylating agents under normal conditions). The ozone-depleting abilities of the CFCs arises from the photolability of the C–Cl bond.
Haloalkane
Alcohols 
Alkylphenol
Nitrate
Benzene
Choline
Naphthalene
Vinyl chloride