Germanium difluoride

Germanium difluoride (GeF₂) is a chemical compound of germanium and fluorine. It is a white solid with a melting point of 110 °C, and can be produced by reacting germanium tetrafluoride with germanium powder at 150–300 °C.^[2]

Germanium difluoride

Two unit cells of the orthorhombic GeF2 structure. Brown atoms are germanium and cyan atoms are fluorine
Names
IUPAC names Germanium difluoride Difluorogermylidene Difluoridogermanium
Other names Germanium(II) fluoride
Identifiers
CAS Number	13940-63-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	4885763 Y
PubChem CID	6327235
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID30930462
InChI InChI=1S/F2Ge/c1-3-2 Y Key: GGJOARIBACGTDV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES F[Ge]F
Properties[1]
Chemical formula	GeF2
Molar mass	110.61 g/mol
Appearance	White orthorhombic hygroscopic crystals
Density	3.61 g/cm3
Melting point	110 °C (230 °F; 383 K)
Boiling point	130 °C (266 °F; 403 K) (sublimates)
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Reacts with water to form HF, corrosive
Related compounds
Related compounds	Germanium tetrafluoride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Structure

Germanium difluoride forms orthorhombic crystals with a space group P2₁2₁2₁ (No. 19), Pearson symbol oP12, and lattice constants a = 0.4682 nm, b = 0.5178 nm, c = 0.8312 nm, Z = 4 (four structure units per unit cell). Its crystal structure is characterized by strong polymeric chains composed by GeF₃ pyramids. One of the fluorine atom in the pyramid is shared by two neighboring chains, providing a weak link between them.^[3] Another, less common crystal form of GeF₂ has tetragonal symmetry with a space group P4₁2₁2 (No. 92), Pearson symbol tP12, and lattice constants a = 0.487 nm, b = 0.6963 nm, c = 0.858 nm.^[4]