- Source: Chlorine pentafluoride
Chlorine pentafluoride is an interhalogen compound with formula ClF5. This colourless gas is a strong oxidant that was once a candidate oxidizer for rockets. The molecule adopts a square pyramidal structure with C4v symmetry, as confirmed by its high-resolution 19F NMR spectrum. It was first synthesized in 1963.
Preparation
Some of the earliest research on the preparation was classified. It was first prepared by fluorination of chlorine trifluoride at high temperatures and high pressures:
ClF3 + F2 → ClF5
ClF + 2F2 → ClF5
Cl2 + 5F2 → 2ClF5
CsClF4 + F2 → CsF + ClF5
NiF2 catalyzes this reaction.
Certain metal fluorides, MClF4 (i.e. KClF4, RbClF4, CsClF4), react with F2 to produce ClF5 and the corresponding alkali metal fluoride.
Reactions
In a highly exothermic reaction, ClF5 reacts with water to produce chloryl fluoride and hydrogen fluoride:
ClF5 + 2 H2O → ClO2F + 4 HF
It is also a strong fluorinating agent. At room temperature it reacts readily with all elements (including otherwise "inert" elements like platinum and gold) except noble gases, nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine.
Uses
= Rocket propellant
=Chlorine pentafluoride was once considered for use as an oxidizer for rockets. As a propellant, it has a higher maximum specific impulse than ClF3, but with the same difficulties in handling. Due to the hazardous nature of chlorine pentafluoride, it has yet to be used in a large scale rocket propulsion system.
See also
Chlorine trifluoride
Hypervalent molecule
References
External links
National Pollutant Inventory - Fluoride and compounds fact sheet
New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
WebBook page for ClF5
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Klorin trifluorida
- Kamus rumus kimia
- Daftar nomor UN 3501 sampai 3600
- Chlorine pentafluoride
- Chlorine fluoride
- Chlorine trifluoride
- Pentafluoride
- Chlorine
- Interhalogen
- Bromine pentafluoride
- Hypergolic propellant
- List of highly toxic gases
- Iodine pentafluoride
