Fluorine essays

Fluorine essays Fluorine is in many of the items we use everyday, such as water, toothpaste, and air conditioners. The name fluorine came from the Latin word fluo, which means, flowing. Fluorine is the 13th or 14th most abundant element on earth. It is classified as a halogen on the periodic chart of elements; it has the chemical symbol of F. Its a greenish-yellow gas, found in the mineral fluorite and the gas reacts with almost all organic and non-organic objects on earth, this classifies it as the most reactive non-metallic element on earth. Fluorine, is the most powerful oxidizer known on earth, and at the same atmospheric temperature, is about 1.3 times as heavy as air. Fluorine has nine protons and ten neutrons in the nucleus and nine electrons dispersed in two electron clouds. On the periodic table, its atomic number is nine. It is located in the second row, in the 17th group, the halogen family. The word halogen means, salt former and so consequently, all compounds containing halogens are considered salts. Halogens, at room temperature, appear in three states of matter. Iodine and astatine appear as solids, fluorine and chlorine appear as gases, and bromine appears as a liquid. All of the halogens have 7 electrons in there outer shell, giving them an oxidation number of negative one. Fluorine has a very pungent odor. It may explode on contact with water, and may release toxic, corrosive, explosive, and/or flammable gases. Fluorine can also react, when exposed to heat. It is harmful, and may, if inhaled it is potentially fatal. This strong oxidizer element can cause skin irritation, eye irritation that is potentially severe, and potentially severe respiratory irritation. Inhaling fluorine even for a short time can cause chest pain. It can cause kidney and liver damage; severe if exposed for long enough. Fluorine, when inhaled can cause death, and can even color your skin blue. E ...