The extreme reactivity of fluorine paradoxically brings to its compounds their most attractive properties—resistance to chemical attack. Because it tends to displace other elements and because no other element is sufficiently reactive to displace fluorine, fluorine compounds become chemically inert. While fluorine is near oxygen and chlorine in the periodic table its 2.85 electronegativity is the highest known and makes it tend to displace them from their compounds. The heat of reaction of fluorine is much greater than for oxygen or chlorine, and while metals that resist oxidation also may resist fluorine, contaminants, particularly organic materials, may react so rapidly as to initiate ignition of backing metal.
Materials of construction useful in handling fluorine are given, with indications of their limitations as to concentration, heat and thickness and specific recommendations on general design factors are itemized.
General characteristics of the fluorocarbons, and some specific fluorocarbon materials are described.
Some safety recommendations are included.
