FLUOR-INE
Fluorine (F) is the ninth element of the periodic table and was first isolated and identified in 1886 by a scientist named Moisson. Scientists knew about fluorine for hundreds of years, but it wasn't isolated until the late 1800s. Now we use fluorine in refrigerators, toothpaste, and rocket fuels.
Located in the second period of the table (row 2), fluorine is the first element in the family of halogen gases. Fluorine is a yellowish gas at room temperature and is very dangerous. Be careful if you are working in a chemistry lab with fluorine gas. Even though the names rhyme, don't get fluorine mixed up with chlorine (Cl) in your homework. They are very different elements, and fluorine is both poisonous and very reactive with other elements. It can combine with nearly any element on Earth.
Where can you find fluorine?
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Rocket Fuel Fluorine is used in rocket fuels. Fluorine is a very reactive element which makes it good for very explosive reactions. |
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Uranium Purification Fluorine is used to refine another element called uranium. Uranium is used in nuclear reactors for fuel. Without fluorine, scientists couldn't get pure uranium. |
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Refridgeration Fluids There is something that helps your refrigerator work. It's called Freon. Freon is pumped through a whole system of tubes. As the Freon moves through your refrigerator, it makes everything cold. One of the main elements in Freon is fluorine. |
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Toothpaste At night when it's time to brush your teeth take a look at your toothpaste. Inside that tube is fluorine. Scientists put very small amounts of fluorine inside your toothpaste to help make your teeth whiter. |
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Etching Solutions It's very hard to draw something called etched glass. Have you ever seen a really fancy window? Have you see the foggy white part of the window that makes some kind of pattern? That is etched glass. Artists use fluorine when they do that to the glass. Ask your parents. Maybe you have some of that glass at home! |
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