Sulfur hexafluoride reactivity

Sulfur hexafluoride production, 11 846 Sulfur hexafluoride reactive ion etching, in lotus effect surfaces, 22 120 Sulfuric acid, 24 260, 12 190, 23 563, 669, 754-801... 

The reactivity of fluorine compounds varies from extremely stable, eg, compounds such as sulfur hexafluoride [2551-62 ] nitrogen trifluoride [7783-54-2] and the perfluorocarbons (see Fluorine compounds, organic) to extremely reactive, eg, the halogen fluorides. Another unique property of nonionic metal fluorides is great volatiUty. Volatile compounds such as tungsten hexafluoride [7783-82-6] molybdenum hexafluoride [7783-77-9] ... 

Sulfur hexafluoride [2551-62-4] 6 molecular weight 146.07, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is not flammable and not particularly reactive. Its high chemical stabiUty and excellent electrical characteristics have led to widespread use in various kinds of electrical and electronic equipment such as circuit breakers, capacitors, transformers, microwave components, etc (see Electronic materials). Other properties of the gas have led to limited usage in a variety of unique appHcations ranging from medical appHcations to space research. 

Pollutants have various atmospheric residence times, with reactive gases and large aerosols being rapidly removed from air. In the London air pollution episode of December 1952, the residence time for sulfur dioxide was estimated to be five hours daily emissions of an estimated 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide were balanced by scavenging by fog droplets, which were rapidly deposited. Most relatively inert gases remain in the atmosphere for extended periods. Sulfur hexafluoride, used extensively in the electric power industiy as an insulator in power breakers because of its inertness, has an estimated atmospheric lifetime of 3,200 years. 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES noncombustible liquid or nonflammable gas stable to water in the presence of acid or base disproportionates at 1 °C to sulfur tetrafluoride and sulfur hexafluoride no reactivities or incompatibilities reported. 

Fluorine is used in producing uranium hexafluoride, sulfur hexafluoride, the halogen fluorides, and other fluorine compounds that require the high reactivity of elemental fluorine for their preparation. Fluorine is also used for the direct fluorination of organic materials when diluted with inert gas or at reduced pressures. 

The noncatenated halides include the relatively inert sulfur hexafluoride and the highly reactive tetrafluorides of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium. SFg( ) is useful in insulators and pressurized athletic equipment. SF4( ) is an important fluorinating agent. Two important oxyhalides are thionyl and sulfuryl chloride. The former is particularly useful in preparing anhydrous metal halides. 

The product of the direct combination of sulfur with fluorine is the octahedral sulfur hexafluoride, SFg (12.7). Fluorine is the only halogen able to oxidize sulfur to the +6 state. Sulfur hexafluoride is chemically unreactive. It is both the most inert sulfur compound and the most inert covalent fluoride. This is in contrast to the lower fluorides and the other sulfur halides, which are reactive and, in particular, are readily hydrolysed. The reluctance of SFg to take part in chemical reaction is purely kinetic reactions such as the hydrolysis... 

Selenium hexafluoride, SeFg, the only clearly defined hexahalide, is formed by reaction of fluorine with molten selenium, It is more reactive than the corresponding sulfur compound, SFs, undergoing slow hydrolysis. Selenium forms tetrahalides with fluorine, chlorine, and bromine, and dihalides with chlorine and bromine. However, other halides can be found in complexes, e.g,. treatment of the pyridine complex of SeF/i in ether solution with HBr yields (py)2SeBrc Selenium tetrafluoride also forms complexes with metal fluorides, giving MSeF complexes with the alkali metals. 

Oxidizer, Poison, Corrosive SAFETY PROFILE Poisonous and corrosive. Very reactive, a powerful oxidizer. Explosive or violent reaction with organic materials, water, acetone, ammonium halides, antimony, antimony trichloride oxide, arsenic, benzene, boron, bromine, carbon, carbon monoxide, carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetraiodide, chloromethane, cobalt, ether, halogens, iodine, powdered molybdenum, niobium, 2-pentanone, phosphoms, potassium hexachloroplatinate, pyridine, silicon, silicone grease, sulfur, tantalum, tin dichloride, titanium, toluene, vanadium, uranium, uranium hexafluoride. 

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