Fluorine

What is Fluorine?

Fluorine is one of the most reactive chemical elements. It belongs to the halogen family in the periodic table and is, in fact, the lightest of them all. It has the ability to attract electrons, which explains why it has the most electronegative characteristics and is reactive in nature. 

It is highly reactive to other elements but does not exist freely in nature. Thus, the very reason why it was quite difficult for scientists to discover it.

Where is Fluorine obtained?

Fluorine is found in warm waters and volcanic gases. The primary source of fluorine is fluorite, but it can also be found in seawater, teeth, bones, and cryolite. Under unique circumstances, fluorine can be produced through the process of electrolysis.

In natural water, the presence of fluorine is controlled by the weathering of rocks, a process wherein there is a major involvement of processes like adsorption-desorption and dissolution-precipitation.

History of Fluorine

The discovery of fluorine is quite a challenge to scientists. In fact, several chemists conducted experiments using fluorspar, including Joseph Priestley, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Humphry Davy, and Gay Lussac, and Louis Jacques Thenard.

Their experiments often lead to the formation of fluoric acid, which is now known as hydrofluoric acid, a potentially fatal acid. Eventually, in 1809, Andre-Marie Ampere, a French scientist, proposed the creation of the new element, fluoric acid, being a compound of hydrogen.

He sent letters to Humphry Davy, and eventually, in 1813, Davy announced the creation of a new element, which is now called fluorine.

Classification, Properties and Characteristics of fluorine 

Of all the chemical elements in the periodic table, fluorine is the most electronegative and most reactive. It is diatomic, flammable, highly corrosive and characterized by a pale yellow color and a pungent smell. Of all the halogens, fluorine is the lightest. It is highly reactive to water and produces oxygen and highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid.

Lewis Dot Structure of Fluorine

Bohr’s Atomic Model of Fluorine

Atomic Data of Fluorine

Physical Properties of Fluorine

Color	Pale Yellow Green
Odor	Has a sharp and penetrating odor
Taste	Tasteless
Atomic Mass	18.998
Weight	18.998403163
Density	0.001553
Atomic Radius	147 pm
Ionization Energy	17.4228 eV
Covalent Radius	71 pm
Ionic Radius	147 pm
Electronic Gain Enthalpy	-328
Electron Negativity	3.98
Electron Affinity	328 kJ/mol
Melting Point	−219.67°C, −363.41°F, 53.48 K
Boiling Point	−188.11°C, −306.6°F, 85.04 K

Chemical Properties of Fluorine

Atomic Number\	9
Group	17
Period	2
Block	p
Electronic Configuration	[He] 2s22p5
Combustion	It is not combustible, but enhances combustion of other materials
Chemical Reactivity	It is highly reactive
Valency of Element	7

Different States of Fluorine

Fluorine is a faintly yellow gas at a standard room temperature. It comes with an irritating smell. It is dangerous to smell this gas. Once fluorine cools down, it becomes a yellow liquid. It comes with only one stable isotope in the form of fluorine-19. 

What are the common uses of fluorine?

There are many uses for fluorine, and some of the most common uses include the following:

Nuclear fuel processing

• Fluorine and its compounds such as uranium hexafluoride play an important part in processing nuclear fuel.

Manufacturing of high-temperature plastic materials

• Fluorine and its compounds can be used in creating high-temperature plastic materials such as Teflon.

Creation of toothpaste and drinking water

• fluorine compounds are among the ingredients in creating toothpaste as it is effective in preventing dental cavities. It is also added to drinking water for the same benefits.

Glass etching

• Hydrofluoric acid is used to dissolve glass. It also plays a crucial role in etching glasses, specifically light bulbs and other glass materials.

Refrigerants

• CFCs, also known as chlorofluorocarbons, are excellent refrigerants for freezers and air conditioning units. However, they are not recommended to be used anymore because of their bad effects on the ozone layer.

Price of fluorine

The cost of pure fluorine is $190/100 grams. Although the price fluctuates depending on supply and demand, If you buy in bulk, you can save a significant amount of money.

Interesting facts about fluorine

• Fluorine is one of the most reactive chemical elements. It is highly reactive to almost all other elements except neon, helium, oxygen, and krypton.
• The first to isolate fluorine was Henri Moissan.
• It is the most electronegative chemical element in the periodic table. It is very good at attracting electrons.
• Fluorine in the form of fluorite was used to aid in ore smelting in the 1500s.
• Fluorine in the form of hydrofluoric acid has the ability to dissolve glass.
• Fluoride ions have a high affinity for calcium. It can alter the body’s ability to metabolize calcium in the blood once it is absorbed through the skin, which could lead to death.
• Did you know that fluorine is the thirteenth most common chemical element found in the earth’s crust?
• Don’t you know that fluorine ranked 24^th in the list of the most abundant chemical elements in the universe.

Pictures of Fluorine

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorine
2. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/9/fluorine
3. https://www.britannica.com/science/fluorine
4. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/fluorine.html
5. https://www.worldofchemicals.com/570/chemistry-articles/less-known-facts-of-fluorine.html
6. https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/f.htm
7. https://www.thoughtco.com/interesting-fluorine-element-facts-603361
8. https://www.livescience.com/28779-fluorine.html
9. https://byjus.com/chemistry/fluorine/
10. https://study.com/academy/lesson/fluorine-facts-properties-uses.html