Fluorine

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Fluorine
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Fluorine is a chemical element wi seembol F an atomic nummer 9. It is the lichtest halogen an exists as a heichly toxic pale yellae diatomic gas at staundary condeetions. As the maist electronegative element, it is extremely reactive: awmaist aw ither elements, includin some noble gases, form compoonds wi fluorine.

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Amang the elements, fluorine ranks 24t in universal abundance an 13t in terrestrial abundance. Fluorite, the primar mineral soorce o fluorine which gae the element its name, wis first descrived in 1529; as it wis addit tae metal ures tae lawer thair meltin pynts for smeltin, the Laitin verb fluo meanin "flowe" gae the mineral its name. Proponed as an element in 1810, fluorine pruived difficult an dangerous tae separate frae its compoonds, an several early experimenters dee'd or susteened injuries frae thair attempts. Anerly in 1886 did French chemist Henri Moissan isolate elemental fluorine uisin law-temperatur electrolysis, a process still employed for modren production. Industrial production o fluorine gas for uranium enrichment, its lairgest application, began in the Manhattan Project in Warld War II.

Awin tae the expense o refinin pure fluorine, maist commercial applications uise fluorine compoonds, wi aboot hauf o mined fluorite uised in steelmakkin. The rest o the fluorite is convertit intae corrosive hydrogen fluoride en route tae various organic fluorides, or intae cryolite which plays a key role in aluminium refinin. Organic fluorides hae very heich chemical an thermal stability; thair major uises are as refrigerants, electrical insulation an cuikware, the last as PTFE (Teflon). Pharmaceuticals sic as atorvastatin an fluoxetine an aa contain fluorine, an the fluoride ion inhibits dental cavities, an sae finds uise in toothpaste an watter fluoridation. Global fluorochemical sales amount tae mair nor US$15 billion a year.

Fluorocarbon gases are generally greenhoose gases wi global-wairmin potentials 100 tae 20,000 times that o carbon dioxide. Organofluorine compoonds persist in the environment due tae the strenth o the carbon–fluorine bond. Fluorine haes na kent metabolic role in mammals; a few plants synthesize organofluorine pushions that deter yerbivores.

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