Fluorine Gas | Properties | Uses | and Facts

Properties Uses and Facts about Fluorine Gas

What is Fluorine

Fluorine is a gas, it is classified as a non-metal. Fluorine is located in group 17 of the periodic table, all elements from this group are called halogens. Chemically, fluorine is an element. Fluorine has an atomic mass of 18.9984 AMU, atomic number 9, and symbol (F). In the Periodic Table, fluorine is located in group 17, period 2, and block (P). Its atom has 9 electrons, 9 protons, 10 neutrons and 2 energy levels. The density of fluorine is 1.696 grams per 1000 cubic centimeters. Fluorine occurs as a gas at room temperature, with a melting point of −219.62 °C (−363.32 °F), and a boiling point of −188.12 °C (−306.62 °F).

Fluorine was discovered by Henri Moissan in 1886.

Fluorine Gas Properties Uses and Facts

Properties of Fluorine

• Fluorine is a dangerously reactive gas with a pale yellow-green colour.
• Fluorine gas has a pungent odor that makes it easy to detect even small amounts.
• Fluorine is the most electro-negative element, which means that fluorine attracts other electrons towards itself.
• Fluorine is a very corrosive gas.
• Fluorine gas is chemically the most reactive of all the elements. It is so reactive that it can react with some inert gases such as krypton, radon, xenon.
• Fluorine gas reacts with all metals, causing them to ignite, such as steelwool, which immediately ignites when exposed to fluorine gas.
• Many elements ignite when exposed to fluorine gas, such as sulfur, which immediately ignites with a bright white-blue flame when exposed to fluorine.
• Many natural products like cotton, coal etc. start burning immediately when they come in contact with fluorine gas.
• Fluorine gas, reacts with water to form oxygen and hydrofluoric acid (HF).

Uses of Fluorine

• Fluorine is a very reactive and dangerous element, so the uses of pure fluorine are very limited.
• Fluorine is used in the production of uranium hexafluoride, which is used in the nuclear power industry to separate isotopes of uranium.
• Fluorine is used to make sulfur hexafluoride, which is used as an insulating gas in high power electrical transformers.
• Fluorine is used in the manufacture of the high-temperature plastic Teflon, which is mostly used on utensils to prevent food from sticking to it.
• Fluorides, which are compounds made from fluorine, have some uses. Fluoride is added to the drinking water supply at a ratio of one per million and one. Small amounts of fluoride prevent tooth decay and strengthen bones. Whereas excessive amount of fluoride causes tooth decay, diseases of bones, nerves and kidneys.
• Fluoride is used in toothpaste.
• Hydrofluoric acid (HF), made from fluorine, is used to etch glass.
• Liquid fluorine is used in rocket fuel.

Interesting Facts about Fluorine gas

• Fluorine is the 13th most abundant element in the Earth's crust.
• Fluorine gas is the most chemically reactive element, so it is not found in free state in nature.
• No chemical substance is capable of liberating fluorine from its compounds, so it is extremely difficult for scientists to obtain pure fluorine gas.
• There is about 3 grams of fluoride in the body of a normal person.
• Hydrofluoric acid (HF) formed from fluorine dissolves the glass.
• Fluorine combines with carbon to form chlorofluorocarbon compounds, which were used in air conditioners and refrigerators. But due to the damage caused to the ozone layer of the earth, it is not used nowadays.
• Fluorine is found in Topaz gemstone.
• Pure fluorine gas is toxic to humans.

Detailed Information on Some other Gases

• Hydrogen Properties Uses and Other Details
• Phosphine (PH3) Properties Uses and other information
• Oxygen Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Helium Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Neon Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Argon Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Xenon Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Krypton Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
• Radon Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts