Method for producing molecular halogen are disclosed, that include the steps of: oxidizing a halide to produce a mixture comprising one or more of a molecular halogen, a trihalide, and a halide; reducing a polysulfide comprising a higher rank polysulfide dianion to produce a lower rank polysulfide dianion; and recovering molecular halogen from the mixture comprising one or more of a molecular halogen, a trihalide, and a halide.