Disulfur decafluoride
Encyclopedia
Disulfur decafluoride is a gas discovered in 1934 by Denbigh and Whytlaw-Gray. Each S of the S2F10 molecule is octahedral, and surrounded by 5 fluorines. S2F10 is highly toxic, with toxicity similar to phosgene
. It was considered a potential chemical warfare
pulmonary agent
in World War II
because it does not produce lacrimation or skin irritation, thus providing little warning of exposure. It is a possible by-product of electrically decomposed SF6
gas -- an essentially inert insulator
used in high voltage systems such as transmission lines, substation
s and switchgear
. S2F10 is also made during the production of SF6, but is distilled out.
At temperatures above 150°C, decomposes slowly to and .
reacts with to give . It reacts with to form in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.
In the presence of excess chlorine
gas, reacts to form sulfur chloride pentafluoride
:
The analogous reaction with bromine
is reversible and yields . The reversibility of this reaction can be used to synthesize from .
Ammonia
is oxidised by into
.
in the lungs into , which is inert, and , which reacts with moisture to form sulfurous acid
and hydrofluoric acid
.
Phosgene
Phosgene is the chemical compound with the formula COCl2. This colorless gas gained infamy as a chemical weapon during World War I. It is also a valued industrial reagent and building block in synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. In low concentrations, its odor resembles...
. It was considered a potential chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
pulmonary agent
Pulmonary agent
A pulmonary agent is a chemical weapon agent designed to impede a victim's ability to breathe. They operate by causing a build-up of fluids in the lungs which then leads to...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
because it does not produce lacrimation or skin irritation, thus providing little warning of exposure. It is a possible by-product of electrically decomposed SF6
Sulfur hexafluoride
Sulfur hexafluoride is an inorganic, colorless, odorless, and non-flammable greenhouse gas. has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a hypervalent molecule. Typical for a nonpolar gas, it is poorly soluble in water but soluble in...
gas -- an essentially inert insulator
Electrical insulation
thumb|250px|[[Coaxial Cable]] with dielectric insulator supporting a central coreThis article refers to electrical insulation. For insulation of heat, see Thermal insulation...
used in high voltage systems such as transmission lines, substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
s and switchgear
Switchgear
The term switchgear, used in association with the electric power system, or grid, refers to the combination of electrical disconnects, fuses and/or circuit breakers used to isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults...
. S2F10 is also made during the production of SF6, but is distilled out.
Properties
This compound contains sulfur in the +5 oxidation state.At temperatures above 150°C, decomposes slowly to and .
reacts with to give . It reacts with to form in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.
In the presence of excess 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...
gas, reacts to form sulfur chloride pentafluoride
Sulfur chloride pentafluoride
Sulfur chloride pentafluoride is an inorganic compound with the formula . It exists as a colorless gas at room temperature and is highly toxic. The compound has an octahedral geometry with symmetry...
:
- + → 2
The analogous reaction with bromine
Bromine
Bromine ") is a chemical element with the symbol Br, an atomic number of 35, and an atomic mass of 79.904. It is in the halogen element group. The element was isolated independently by two chemists, Carl Jacob Löwig and Antoine Jerome Balard, in 1825–1826...
is reversible and yields . The reversibility of this reaction can be used to synthesize from .
Ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
is oxidised by into
Thiazyl trifluoride
Thiazyl trifluoride is a chemical compound of nitrogen, sulfur, and fluorine, having the formula NSF3. It exists as a stable, colourless gas, and is an important precursor to other sulfur-nitrogen-fluorine compounds...
.
Toxicity
is a colorless, odorless liquid about 4 times as poisonous as phosgene; a single breath can kill within a day. Its toxicity is thought to be caused by its disproportionationDisproportionation
Disproportionation, also known as dismutation is used to describe a specific type of redox reaction in which a species is simultaneously reduced and oxidized so as to form two different products....
in the lungs into , which is inert, and , which reacts with moisture to form sulfurous acid
Sulfurous acid
Sulfurous acid is the chemical compound with the formula H2SO3. There is no evidence that sulfurous acid exists in solution, but the molecule has been detected in the gas phase...
and hydrofluoric acid
Hydrofluoric acid
Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water. It is a valued source of fluorine and is the precursor to numerous pharmaceuticals such as fluoxetine and diverse materials such as PTFE ....
.