Mineralizers fluoride

The role of fluoride in this mineralisation process seems to be in promoting the conversion of OCP to hydroxypatite, and producing plate-like crystals of the more thermodynamically stable mineral. Fluoride is effective at promoting the formation of an apatite lattice through a solid-state transformation of OCP at levels between 0.05 and 0.4 ppm [72]. 

Fluorine is found in nature as mineral fluorides, and it is the most abundant halogen in the Earth s crust. Thus, it is rather surprising that less than 15 fluorinated organic molecules have been isolated from plants. They are aU secondary metabolites of fluoroacetate. Among these compounds, all monofluorinated, half are composed of (w-fluorinated homologues of fatty acids. ... 

Conversely to most of the plants, some from Africa, South America, and Australia are able to biosynthesize fluoroacetate from mineral fluorides and stock it at relatively high concentrations. Indeed, fluoroacetate is a powerful inhibitor of the Krebs cycle... 

The scientific consensus is that, like many minerals, fluoride shows some health benefits at certain levels— about l-4mg/day for adults—but can have detrimental effects at higher levels. Consequently, most major cities fluoridate their drinking water at a level of about 1 mg/L. Since adults drink between 1 and 2 L of water per day, they should receive the beneficial amounts of fluoride from the water. Bottled water does not normally contain fluoride, and therefore does not have the benefit of fluoride to teeth. Fluoridated bottled water can sometimes be found in the infant section of supermarkets. 

Yet another inorganic network includesthe Catalan fluorite network [11], the structure of a number of mineral fluorides including CaF, shown in Fig. 11. 

Fluorine occurs widely in nature as insoluble fluorides. Calcium fluoride occurs as jluospar or fluorite, for example in Derbyshire where it is coloured blue and called bluejohn . Other important minerals are cryolite NajAlFg (p. 141) and Jluorapatite CaFjSCaj (P04)2. Bones and teeth contain fluorides and some natural water contains traces. 

Beryllium is found in some 30 mineral species, the most important of which are bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, and phenacite. Aquamarine and emerald are precious forms of beryl. Beryl and bertrandite are the most important commercial sources of the element and its compounds. Most of the metal is now prepared by reducing beryllium fluoride with magnesium metal. Beryllium metal did not become readily available to industry until 1957. 

Gr. aktis, aktinos, beam or ray). Discovered by Andre Debierne in 1899 and independently by F. Giesel in 1902. Occurs naturally in association with uranium minerals. Actinium-227, a decay product of uranium-235, is a beta emitter with a 21.6-year half-life. Its principal decay products are thorium-227 (18.5-day half-life), radium-223 (11.4-day half-life), and a number of short-lived products including radon, bismuth, polonium, and lead isotopes. In equilibrium with its decay products, it is a powerful source of alpha rays. Actinium metal has been prepared by the reduction of actinium fluoride with lithium vapor at about 1100 to 1300-degrees G. The chemical behavior of actinium is similar to that of the rare earths, particularly lanthanum. Purified actinium comes into equilibrium with its decay products at the end of 185 days, and then decays according to its 21.6-year half-life. It is about 150 times as active as radium, making it of value in the production of neutrons. 

Gadolinium is found in several other minerals, including monazite and bastnasite, both of which are commercially important. With the development of ion-exchange and solvent extraction techniques, the availability and prices of gadolinium and the other rare-earth metals have greatly improved. The metal can be prepared by the reduction of the anhydrous fluoride with metallic calcium. 

L. Holmia, for Stockholm). The special absorption bands of holmium were noticed in 1878 by the Swiss chemists Delafontaine and Soret, who announced the existence of an "Element X." Cleve, of Sweden, later independently discovered the element while working on erbia earth. The element is named after cleve s native city. Holmia, the yellow oxide, was prepared by Homberg in 1911. Holmium occurs in gadolinite, monazite, and in other rare-earth minerals. It is commercially obtained from monazite, occurring in that mineral to the extent of about 0.05%. It has been isolated by the reduction of its anhydrous chloride or fluoride with calcium metal. 

Cryolite. Cryohte constitutes an important raw material for aluminum manufacturing. The natural mineral is accurately depicted as 3NaF AIF., but synthetic cryohte is often deficient in sodium fluoride. Physical properties are given in Table 4. 

In the geochemistry of fluorine, the close match in the ionic radii of fluoride (0.136 nm), hydroxide (0.140 nm), and oxide ion (0.140 nm) allows a sequential replacement of oxygen by fluorine in a wide variety of minerals. This accounts for the wide dissemination of the element in nature. The ready formation of volatile silicon tetrafluoride, the pyrohydrolysis of fluorides to hydrogen fluoride, and the low solubility of calcium fluoride and of calcium fluorophosphates, have provided a geochemical cycle in which fluorine may be stripped from solution by limestone and by apatite to form the deposits of fluorspar and of phosphate rock (fluoroapatite [1306-01 -0]) approximately CaF2 3Ca2(P0 2 which ate the world s main resources of fluorine (1). 

Analytical Methods. Fluorite is readily identified by its crystal shape, usually simple cubes or interpenetrating twins, by its prominent octahedral cleavage, its relative softness, and the production of hydrogen fluoride when treated with sulfuric acid, evidenced by etching of glass. The presence of fluorite in ore specimens, or when associated with other fluorine-containing minerals, may be deterrnined by x-ray diffraction. 

Eluorspar assay may be completed by fluoride determination alone, because the mineralogical grouping rarely iacludes fluorine minerals other than fluorite. Calcium can be determined as oxalate or by ion-selective electrodes (67). SiUca can be determined ia the residue from solution ia perchloric acid—boric acid mixture by measuriag the loss ia weight on Aiming off with hydrofluoric acid. Another method for determining siUca ia fluorspar is the ASTM Standard Test Method E463-72. 

Hafnium is readily soluble in hydrofluoric acid and is slowly attacked by concentrated sulfuric acid. Hafnium is unaffected by nitric acid in all concentrations. It is resistant to dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. Hafnium is attacked by all mineral acids if traces of fluorides are present. Hafnium is very resistant to attack by alkaUes. 

Aluminum [7429-90-5] Al, atomic number 13, atomic weight 26.981, is, at 8.8 wt %, the third most abundant element in the earth s cmst. It is usually found in siUcate minerals such as feldspar [68476-25-5] clays, and mica [12001 -26-2]. Aluminum also occurs in hydroxide, oxide—hydroxide, fluoride, sulfate, or phosphate compounds in a large variety of minerals and ores. 

Minerals and Ash. The water-soluble extract solids which iafuse from tea leaves contain 10—15% ash. The tea plant has been found to be rich in potassium (24) and contains significant quantities of calcium, magnesium (25), and aluminum (26). Tea beverages are also a significant source of fluoride (27), owing in part to the uptake of aluminum fluoride from soils (28,29). 

Most mineral acids react vigorously with thorium metal. Aqueous HCl attacks thorium metal, but dissolution is not complete. From 12 to 25% of the metal typically remains undissolved. A small amount of fluoride or fluorosiUcate is often used to assist in complete dissolution. Nitric acid passivates the surface of thorium metal, but small amounts of fluoride or fluorosiUcate assists in complete dissolution. Dilute HF, HNO, or H2SO4, or concentrated HCIO4 and H PO, slowly dissolve thorium metal, accompanied by constant hydrogen gas evolution. Thorium metal does not dissolve in alkaline hydroxide solutions. 

Fluorides. Most woddwide reductions in dental decay can be ascribed to fluoride incorporation into drinking water, dentifrices, and mouth rinses. Numerous mechanisms have been described by which fluoride exerts a beneficial effect. Fluoride either reacts with tooth enamel to reduce its susceptibihty to dissolution in bacterial acids or interferes with the production of acid by bacterial within dental plaque. The multiple modes of action with fluoride may account for its remarkable effectiveness at concentrations far below those necessary with most therapeutic materials. Fluoride release from restorative dental materials foUow the same basic pattern. Fluoride is released in an initial short burst after placement of the material, and decreases rapidly to a low level of constant release. The constant low level release has been postulated to provide tooth protection by incorporation into tooth mineral. 

The hardness of a mineral as measured by the Mohs scale is a criterion of its resistance to crushing [Fahrenwald, Trans. Am. In.st. Min. Metall. Pet. Eng., 112, 88 (1934)]. It is a fairly good indication of the abrasive character of the mineral, a factor that determines the wear on the grinding media. Arranged in increasing order or hardness, the Mohs scale is as fohows 1, talc 2, gypsum 3, calcite 4, fluoride 5, apatite 6, feldspar 7, quartz 8, topaz 9, corundum and 10, diamond. 

Fluoride production consists on reacting fluorspar mineral (CaF ) with H SO (cc) to form HF and calcium sulphate. However, reactions do not achieve 100 % yield, so fluorogypsum or anhydrite (CaSO ) obtained contains small amounts of fluoride as CaF in its stmcture. The application of this kind of subproduct is well-known as constmction material, so that the flouride content has to be controlled. 

The fluoride amount recovery by Willard-Winter distillation process using a mixture of mineral acids (50 % v/v) was 3.2 0.1 % F. The new analytical conditions using H SO obtained from the chemometric study gave the result of3.3 0.2%F. 

The elements for which the results can be underestimated because of an incomplete digestion of refractory accessory minerals such as zircon and garnet, and/or formation of insoluble fluoride complexes have been distinguished. Recommendations on the choice of the decomposition procedure for such samples are given. 

Substances which have a deleterious effect on the taste and/or smell of the products for human consumption derived from the aquatic environment Toxic or persistent organic compounds of silicon Inorganic compounds of phosphorus and elemental phosphorus Non-persistent mineral oils and hydrocarbons of petroleum origin Cyanides, fluorides... 

Fluorinated rubbers, copolymers of hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene-fluorides, have excellent resistance to oils, fuels and lubricants at temperatures up to 200°C. They have better resistance to aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons and most mineral acids than other rubbers, but their high cost restricts their engineering applications. Cheremisinoff et al. [54] provide extensive physical and mechanical properties data on engineering plastics. A glossary of terms concerned with fabrication and properties of plastics is given in the last section of this chapter. 

Hydrogen fluoride is maiiufaetured by the reaetion with sulfurie aeid of fluorspar, a fluorine-eontaining mineral. 

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