Fluorine Fluorine Fluorine is a chemical element with symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists as a highly toxic pale yellow diatomic gas at standard conditions. As the most electronegative element, it is extremely reactive, as it reacts with almost all other elements, except for helium and neon. Among the elements, fluorine ranks 24th in universal abundance and 13th in terrestrial abundance. Fluorite, the primary mineral source of fluorine which gave the element its name, was first described in 1529; as it was added to metal ores to lower their melting points for smelting, the
Bromine pentafluoride an excess of fluorine: For the preparation of smaller amounts, potassium bromide is used: This route yields bromine pentafluoride almost completely free of trifluorides and other impurities. Bromine pentafluoride reacts violently with water, but when moderated by dilution with acetonitrile, it will form bromic acid and hydrofluoric acid, simple hydrolysis products: It is an extremely effective fluorinating agent, converting most uranium compounds to the hexafluoride at room temperature. Bromine pentafluoride is severely corrosive to the skin, and its vapors are irritating to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Exposure to 100 ppm for a few minutes is lethal to most