fluorine [F]

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Introduction

From the Latin fluere meaning flow. First identified in 1771 by Karl W Scheele. First isolated in 1886 by French chemist F Henri Moissan*

* awarded Nobel prize in chemistry in 1906

Occurrence

  • found in fluorspar, cryolite & other minerals

Characteristics

  • nonmetallic halogen element
  • isolated as a yellowish flammable irritating toxic corrosive diatomic gas with characteristic odor
  • most reactive element

Uses

  • essential trace element for mammals
  • flourine & its compounds are used in
    • producing uranium
    • > 100 commercial fluorochemicals
  • fluorocarbons were used in air-conditioning, but have been phased out after it was discovered that they damaged the earth's ozone layer

More general terms

More specific terms

Additional terms

References

  1. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam- Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
  2. Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003

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