Fluorine

Fluorine
Symbol	F
Atomic number	9
Atomic mass	18.998403 amu

Fluorine, Fluorine, discovered in 1771. Fluorine, F₂, is a gas and is the most reactive of all the nonmetals. Platinum, a material that is inert towards most other chemicals, corrodes in the presence of fluorine. Only a few of the noble gases resist reacting with fluorine.

Occurrence

Because it is such a strong oxidizing agent that it has not been produced by chemical oxidation of F^- ions (i.e. after more than 170 years of trying). The pale yellow gas is prepared by electrolysis of a molten mixture of hydrogen fluoride and potassium fluoride.

Usage

There are many uses for fluorine. These include:

1. fluorine as a fluorinating agent.
2. the use of fluorinated organic compounds called fluorocarbons or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants, lubricants, plastics, insecticides, and aerosol propellants.
3. the use of Teflon, for nonstick surfaces on cooking utensils and in applications where inert surfaces are required. One such application is artificial valves for the heart.
4. the use of gaseous F₂ in the production of volatile uranium hexafluoride, UF₆, which is used for nuclear fuel,
5. the production of SF₆ for use as electrical insulator, and
6. F^- ions to prevent dental tooth decay, especially in children.

It also occurs in small amounts in sea water, teeth, bones and blood.

Common compounds

Fluorine occurs as F^- ions in minerals in large quantities:

• fluorspar or fluorite, CaF₂,
• cryolite, Na₃AlF₆, and
• fluoroapatite, Ca₅(PO₄)₃F.

See also

Periodic table of the elements