Fluorination of Volatile Inorganic Compounds

The selection of a method for the fluorination of volatile inorganic Compounds is dependent upon several factors, among which are  

The desired extent of fluorination of the starting material may dictate the fluorinating agent to be used. For example, fluorine converts silicon tetrachloride to silicon tetra-fluoride, whereas antimony(III) fluoride promotes the reactions which produce the chlorofluorides, SiCl3F, SiCl2F2, and SiCIFs. 

The ease of replacing halogens by fluorine increases from Mathieson Chemical Corporation, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 

A given fluorinating agent may be preferred for a laboratory synthesis, but the yield of the desired product may be too low to permit the economical use of this agent in a commercial process. 

If two fluorinating agents are equally satisfactory as far as their role in a synthesis is concerned, the cost of the available fluorine merits consideration. For example, although hydrofluoric acid is more expensive per pound than sodium fluoride, it yields more fluorine per dollar. 

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