Cobalt(III) fluoride
Encyclopedia
Cobalt fluoride is the inorganic compound
with the formula CoF3. This highly reactive, hygroscopic brown solid is used to synthesize organofluorine
compounds. CoF3 is a powerful fluorinating agent, the product being CoF2
.
with fluorine
at 250 °C:
This conversion is a redox reaction: Co2+ is converted to Co3+ and chloride to chlorine
at the expense of fluorine, which is converted to fluoride. Cobalt(II) oxide (CoO) and cobalt(II) fluoride (CoF2) can also be converted to cobalt(III) fluoride using fluorine.
CoF3 is hygroscopic, forming a dihydrate (CAS#54496-71-8). It reacts with flouride sources to give the anion [CoF6]3-, which is a rare example of a high-spin, octahedral cobalt(III) complex.
s to the perfluorocarbons:
Such reactions are sometimes accompanied by rearrangements or other reactions. The related reagent KCoF4 is more selective.
Inorganic compound
Inorganic compounds have traditionally been considered to be of inanimate, non-biological origin. In contrast, organic compounds have an explicit biological origin. However, over the past century, the classification of inorganic vs organic compounds has become less important to scientists,...
with the formula CoF3. This highly reactive, hygroscopic brown solid is used to synthesize organofluorine
Organofluorine chemistry
Organofluorine chemistry describes the chemistry of organofluorine compounds, organic compounds that contain the carbon–fluorine bond. Organofluorine compounds find diverse applications ranging from oil- and water-repellents to pharmaceuticals, refrigerants and reagents in catalysis...
compounds. CoF3 is a powerful fluorinating agent, the product being CoF2
Cobalt(II) fluoride
Cobalt fluoride is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a pink crystalline solid compound. The formula is given for both the red tetragonal crystal, , and the tetrahydrate red orthogonal crystal, . CoF2 is used in oxygen-sensitive fields, namely metal production. In low concentrations, it...
.
Preparation
CoF3 is prepared in the laboratory by treating CoCl2Cobalt(II) chloride
Cobalt chloride is an inorganic compound of cobalt and chloride, with the formula CoCl2. It is usually supplied as the hexahydrate CoCl2·6H2O, which is one of the most commonly used cobalt compounds in the laboratory. The hexahydrate is deep purple in color, whereas the anhydrous form is sky blue...
with fluorine
Fluorine
Fluorine is the chemical element with atomic number 9, represented by the symbol F. It is the lightest element of the halogen column of the periodic table and has a single stable isotope, fluorine-19. At standard pressure and temperature, fluorine is a pale yellow gas composed of diatomic...
at 250 °C:
- CoCl2 + 3/2 F2 → CoF3 + Cl2
This conversion is a redox reaction: Co2+ is converted to Co3+ and chloride to chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
at the expense of fluorine, which is converted to fluoride. Cobalt(II) oxide (CoO) and cobalt(II) fluoride (CoF2) can also be converted to cobalt(III) fluoride using fluorine.
Reactions
CoF3 decomposes upon contact with water to give oxygen:- 4 CoF3 + 2 H2O → 4 HF + 4 CoF2 + O2
CoF3 is hygroscopic, forming a dihydrate (CAS#54496-71-8). It reacts with flouride sources to give the anion [CoF6]3-, which is a rare example of a high-spin, octahedral cobalt(III) complex.
Applications
Used as slurry, CoF3 converts hydrocarbonHydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
s to the perfluorocarbons:
- 2CoF3 + R-H → 2CoF2 + R-F + HF
Such reactions are sometimes accompanied by rearrangements or other reactions. The related reagent KCoF4 is more selective.