Uses of Fluorine
Fluorine is a pale yellow or brown gas that is highly corrosive. Here are some of the more common uses of fluorine in the world today.
Uses of Fluorine
- Some compounds of fluorine (such as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride and sodium MFP) are added to toothpastes to prevent dental cavities. These are now regularly added to water as well.
- Most general anesthetics are derived from compounds of fluorine.
- Fluorine-18 emits positrons and has a relatively large half-life. This makes it ideal for use in positron emission topography.
- Anti-reflective coatings contain compounds of fluorine.
- Fluorine can be used for plasma etching, flat panel display and MEMS (microelectromechanical) fabrication.
- HF (hydrofluoric acid) is used to etch glass, usually in light bulbs.
- Fluorine is used in one step of the production of halons such as freon.
- Fluorine is used to obtain pure uranium from uranium hexafluoride.
- Compounds of fluorine are used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
- Another compound of fluorine is used in the electrolysis of aluminum. This process allows pure aluminum to be obtained!
- A who family of broad-spectrum antibiotics (these work on a number of different bacteria) contain fluorine.
- Much commercially produced fluorine is used to make sulfur hexafluoride. This compound is used as a dielectric medium in the electrical industry.
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