Page 180 - The Periodic Table Book

9
F Fluorine

State: Gas
9
9 Laboratory sample
Discovery: 1886
10
The Halogen Group This soft mineral is
Forms

brittle, which means it
breaks easily into lots
of pieces.

This sealed case
Topaz contains a mixture of
Cryolite means fluorine and helium.
“fire” in the
ancient Indian
language of
Sanskrit.

These cubic
crystals are green
due to impurities.

Topaz

Fluorite

This precious gemstone
contains 20.7% fluorine.

This highly reactive element is incredibly is often stored in nickel containers that can resist
dangerous when pure: just a tiny amount its attack. Minerals such as cryolite and fluorite
added to the air can kill a person. A pale contain this element. This gas and its less
yellow gas, fluorine reacts with brick, glass, harmful compounds have a wide variety of uses.
and steel, burning a hole straight through Hydrofluoric acid is a toxic liquid used to etch
178 them. Because it is so dangerous, pure fluorine patterns on glass, as seen in some glass vases.

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