Interactive image InChI=1S/FH/h1H Y Key: KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/FH/h1H Key: KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYAC 15 (in DMSO) [ 3 ] Hydrogen fluoride [ 5 ] is an inorganic compound with chemical formula H F . It is a colorless gas or liquid that dissolves in water to yield hydrofluoric acid . It is the principal industrial source of fluorine , often in the form of hydrofluoric acid, and is an important feedstock in the preparation of many important compounds including pharmaceuticals and polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). HF is also widely used in the petrochemical industry as a component of superacids . Due to strong and extensive hydrogen bonding , it boils near room temperature, a much higher temperature than other hydrogen halides . Hydrogen fluoride is an extremely dangerous gas. It readily forms the highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid upon contact with moisture . The gas can also cause blindness by rapid destruction of the corneas . In 1771 Carl Wilhelm Scheele prepared the aqueous solution, hydrofluoric acid , in large quantities, although hydrofluoric acid had been known in the glass industry before then. French chemist Edmond Frémy (1814–1894) is credited with discovering hydrogen fluoride while trying to isolate fluorine . Structure and reactions HF is diatomic in the gas phase, consisting of separate molecules. As a liquid, HF forms relatively strong hydrogen bonds , hence its relatively high boiling point. Solid HF consists of zigzag chains of HF molecules. The HF molecules, with a short covalent H–F bond of 95 pm length, are linked to neighboring molecules by intermolecular H–F distances of 155 pm. [ 6 ] Liquid HF also consists of chains of HF molecules, but the chains are shorter, consisting on average of only five or six molecules. [ 7 ] Comparison with other hydrogen halides Hydrogen fluoride does not boil until 20 °C (68 °F) in contrast to the heavier hydrogen halides, which boil between −85 and −35 °C (−121 and −31 °F) . [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] This hydrogen bonding between HF molecules gives rise to high viscosity in the liquid phase and lower than expected pressure in the gas phase. Aqueous solutions HF is miscible with water (dissolves in any proportion). In contrast, the other hydrogen halides exhibit limiting solubilities in water. Hydrogen fluoride forms a monohydrate HF·H 2 O with melting point −40 °C (−40 °F) , which is 44 °C (79 °F) above the melting point of pure HF. [ 11 ] Aqueous solutions of HF are called hydrofluoric acid . When dilute, hydrofluoric acid behaves like a weak acid , unlike the other hydrohalic acids, due to the formation of hydrogen-bonded ion pairs [ H 3 O + ·F − ]. [ 12 ] However concentrated solutions are strong acids, because bifluoride anions are predominant, instead of ion pairs. In liquid anhydrous HF, self-ionization occurs: [ 13 ] [ 14 ] which forms an extremely acidic liquid ( H 0 = −15.1 ). Reactions with Lewis acids Like water, HF can act as a weak base, reacting with Lewis acids to give superacids . A Hammett acidity function ( H 0 ) of −21 is obtained with antimony pentafluoride (SbF 5 ), forming fluoroantimonic acid . [ 15 ] [ 16 ] Hydrogen fluoride is typically produced by the reaction between sulfuric acid and pure grades of the mineral fluorite ( calcium fluoride ): [ 12 ] [ 17 ] About 20% of manufactured HF is a byproduct of fertilizer production, which generates hexafluorosilicic acid . This acid can be degraded to release HF thermally and by hydrolysis: High purity deuterium fluoride results from the reduction of AgF 2 in a D 2 atmosphere at 120 °C. Crystallized DF from this reaction, analyzed by neutron diffraction has been used to gain a better understanding of the hydrogen bonding in solid HF. [ 18 ] In general, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is more common industrially than its aqueous solution, hydrofluoric acid . Its main uses, on a tonnage basis, are as a precursor to organofluorine compounds and a precursor to synthetic cryolite for the electrolysis of aluminium. [ 17 ] Precursor to organofluorine compounds HF reacts with chlorocarbons to give fluorocarbons. An important application of this reaction is the production of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), precursor to Teflon . Chloroform is fluorinated by HF to produce chlorodifluoromethane (R-22): [ 17 ] Pyrolysis of chlorodifluoromethane at 550–750 °C yields TFE. HF is a reactive solvent in the electrochemical fluorination of organic compounds. In this approach, HF is oxidized in the presence of a hydrocarbon and the fluorine replaces C–H bonds with C–F bonds . Perfluorinated carboxylic acids and sulfonic acids are produced in this way. [ 19 ] 1,1-Difluoroethane is produced by adding HF to acetylene using mercury as a catalyst. [ 19 ] The intermediate in this process is vinyl fluoride or fluoroethylene, the monomeric precursor to polyvinyl fluoride . Precursor to metal fluorides and fluorine The electrowinning of aluminium relies on the electrolysis of aluminium fluoride in molten cryolite. Several kilograms of HF are consumed per ton of aluminium produced. Other metal fluorides are produced using HF, including uranium tetrafluoride . [ 17 ] HF is the precursor to elemental fluorine , F 2 , by electrolysis of a solution of HF and potassium bifluoride . The potassium bifluoride is needed because anhydrous HF does not conduct electricity. Several thousand tons of F 2 are produced annually. [ 20 ] HF serves as a catalyst in alkylation processes in refineries. It is used in the majority of the installed linear alkyl benzene production facilities in the world. The process involves dehydrogenation of n -paraffins to olefins, and subsequent reaction with benzene using HF as catalyst. For example, in oil refineries "alkylate", a component of high- octane petrol ( gasoline ), is generated in alkylation units, which combine C 3 and C 4 olefins and isobutane . [ 17 ] Hydrogen fluoride is an excellent solvent. Reflecting the ability of HF to participate in hydrogen bonding, even proteins and carbohydrates dissolve in HF and can be recovered from it. In contrast, most non-fluoride inorganic chemicals react with HF rather than dissolving. [ 21 ] High power HF lasers have been constructed but their operating wavelength strongly absorbed by water in the atmosphere. [ 22 ] : 342 Systems like the short-lived [ 23 ] Tactical High Energy Laser instead rely on deuterium fluoride lasers. [ 24 ] Such lasers can produce 4.5W average power with 4000 pulses per second. [ 25 ] These lasers rely on combustion reactions of H 2 or D 2 with dissociated fluorine gas F 2 , producing excited vibrational and rotational states of HF: The vibrationally excited state of HF laze around 2.7 μm and DF around 3.8 μm . [ 22 ] Hydrogen fluoride is highly corrosive toward tissue. [ 26 ] It can cause blindness by rapid destruction of the corneas . ↑ "Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry IUPAC Recommendations 2005" (PDF) . Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. 1 2 3 4 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0334" . National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). ↑ Evans, D. A. "pKa's of Inorganic and Oxo-Acids" (PDF) . Retrieved June 19, 2020 . 1 2 "Hydrogen fluoride" . Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations . National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health . ↑ Registername 5: https://recherche.chemikalieninfo.de/public/stoff/21217?dv=18&sv= ↑ Johnson, M. W.; Sándor, E.; Arzi, E. (1975). "The Crystal Structure of Deuterium Fluoride". Acta Crystallographica . B31 (8): 1998– 2003. doi : 10.1107/S0567740875006711 . ↑ McLain, Sylvia E.; Benmore, C. J.; Siewenie, J. E.; Urquidi, J.; Turner, J. F. (2004). "On the Structure of Liquid Hydrogen Fluoride". Angewandte Chemie International Edition . 43 (15): 1952– 1955. doi : 10.1002/anie.200353289 . PMID 15065271 . ↑ Pauling, Linus A. (1960). The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals: An Introduction to Modern Structural Chemistry . Cornell University Press. pp. 454– 464. ISBN 978-0-8014-0333-0 . {{ cite book }} : ISBN / Date incompatibility ( help ) ↑ Atkins, Peter; Jones, Loretta (2008). Chemical principles: The quest for insight . W. H. Freeman & Co. pp. 184– 185. ISBN 978-1097774678 . ↑ Emsley, John (1981). "The hidden strength of hydrogen" . New Scientist . 91 (1264): 291– 292. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023 . Retrieved 25 December 2012 . ↑ Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1998). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. pp. 812– 816. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4 . 1 2 Rennie, Richard, ed. (2020). Dictionary of chemistry . Oxford quick reference (8th ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom ; New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-884122-7 . ↑ Housecroft, C. E.; Sharpe, A. G. Inorganic Chemistry . p. 221. [ edition needed ] [ ISBN missing ] ↑ Cotton, F. A.; Wilkinson, G. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry . p. 111. [ edition needed ] [ ISBN missing ] ↑ Jolly, W. L. (1984). Modern Inorganic Chemistry . McGraw-Hill. p. 203. ISBN 0-07-032768-8 . . ↑ Cotton, F. A. ; Wilkinson, G. (1988). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (5th ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. p. 109. ISBN 0-471-84997-9 . 1 2 3 4 5 Aigueperse, J.; Mollard, P.; Devilliers, D.; Chemla, M.; Faron, R.; Romano, R.; Cuer, J. P. (2000). "Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi : 10.1002/14356007.a11_307 . ISBN 3527306730 . ↑ Johnson, M. W.; Sándor, E.; Arzi, E. (August 15, 1975). "The crystal structure of deuterium fluoride" . Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry . 31 (8): 1998– 2003. doi : 10.1107/S0567740875006711 . ISSN 0567-7408 . 1 2 Siegemund, G.; Schwertfeger, W.; Feiring, A.; Smart, B.; Behr, F.; Vogel, H.; McKusick, B. (2005). "Fluorine Compounds, Organic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi : 10.1002/14356007.a11_349 . ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2 . ↑ Jaccaud, M.; Faron, R.; Devilliers, D.; Romano, R. (2005). "Fluorine". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi : 10.1002/14356007.a11_293 . ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2 . . ↑ Greenwood; Earnshaw. Chemistry of the Elements . pp. 816– 819. [ edition needed ] [ ISBN missing ] 1 2 Endo, Masamori; Walter, Robert F. (October 3, 2018). Gas Lasers . CRC Press. ISBN 978-1420018806 . ↑ Broad, William J. (July 30, 2006). "U.S. and Israel Shelved Laser as a Defense" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2026-08-02 . ↑ Wilson, Gerald; Graves, Bruce R.; Patterson, Stanley P.; Wank, Robert H. (September 10, 2004). " < title > Deuterium fluoride laser technology and demonstrators < /title > " . SPIE Proceedings . 5414 . SPIE: 41– 51. doi : 10.1117/12.554470 . ↑ Rudko, R. I.; Drozdowicz, Z.; Linhares, S.; Bua, D. (April 1, 1982). "High‐repetition‐rate, recirculating hydrogen fluoride/deuterium fluoride laser" . Review of Scientific Instruments . 53 (4): 452– 457. doi : 10.1063/1.1136988 . ISSN 0034-6748 . ↑ "Facts About Hydrogen Fluoride (Hydrofluoric Acid)" . Emergency Preparedness and Response . U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine at ATSDR . Retrieved September 30, 2019 CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards Hydrogen Fluoride Fact Sheet at Toxics Use Reduction Institute H 2 CrO 4 / H 2 Cr 2 O 7 Aluminium monochloride Aluminium monofluoride Aluminium(II) oxide Carbon monophosphide Carbon monosulfide Carbon monoxide Diatomic carbon Fluoromethylidynium Helium hydride ion Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen (molecular) Hydroxyl radical Magnesium monohydride Methylidyne radical Nitrogen (molecular) Oxygen (molecular) Phosphorus monoxide Phosphorus mononitride Potassium chloride Silicon carbide Silicon monoxide Silicon monosulfide Sodium chloride Sulfur mononitride Sulfur monoxide Titanium(II) oxide Aluminium(I) hydroxide Aluminium isocyanide Carbonyl sulfide Dicarbon monoxide Disilicon carbide Ethynyl radical Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) Hydrogen isocyanide (HNC) Hydrogen sulfide Magnesium cyanide Magnesium isocyanide Methylidynephosphane Potassium cyanide Sodium hydroxide Silicon carbonitride c-Silicon dicarbide

Thioxoethenylidene Titanium dioxide Trihydrogen cation Hydrogen peroxide Hydromagnesium isocyanide Isothiocyanic acid Methylene amidogen Protonated carbon dioxide Protonated hydrogen cyanide Silicon tricarbide Thiocyanic acid Thioformaldehyde Tricarbon monosulfide Tricarbon monoxide Cyanoformaldehyde Cyclopropenylidene Isocyanoacetylene Methoxy radical Propadienylidene Protonated formaldehyde Silicon-carbide cluster Cyanobutadiynyl radical E-Cyanomethanimine Methyl isocyanide Protonated cyanoacetylene Acrylonitrile Vinyl cyanide Cyanodiacetylene Hexatriynyl radical Methyl isocyanate Aminoacetonitrile Hexapentaenylidene Methylcyanoacetylene Cyanohexatriyne Methyldiacetylene N-Methylformamide Octatetraynyl radical Buckminsterfullerene (C 60 , C 60 + , fullerene, buckyball) Cyanodecapentayne Cyclopentindene Ethylene glycol Heptatrienyl radical Methyl-cyano-diacetylene Methyltriacetylene Propionaldehyde Hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen deuteride Hydrogen isocyanide Trihydrogen cation Dihydroxyacetone Naphthalene cation Atomic and molecular astrophysics Chemical formula Circumstellar dust Circumstellar envelope Diffuse interstellar band Earliest known life forms Extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial liquid water Forbidden mechanism Intergalactic dust Interplanetary medium Interstellar medium Iron–sulfur world theory Molecules in stars Nexus for Exoplanet System Science Organic compound PAH world hypothesis Photodissociation region Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) Pseudo-panspermia RNA world hypothesis Category:Astrochemistry Outer space portal Astronomy portal Chemistry portal (NH 4 ) 3 [ AlF 6 ] (NH 4 ) 2 SiF 6 (NH 4 ) 3 CrF 6 (NH 4 ) 3 FeF 6 (NH 4 ) 3 GaF 6 (NH 4 ) 2 GeF 6 (NH 4 ) 3 InF 6 (NH 4 ) 2 SnF 6 (NH 4 ) 2 ZrF 6 McH 3 (predicted) HN 5 (hypothetical) NH 5 (hypothetical) LvH 2 (predicted) H 2 O + –O – (hypothetical) HTs (predicted) LrH 3 (predicted) DsH 2 (predicted) RgH (predicted) CnH 2 (predicted) Hydrogen compounds Industrial gases Inorganic solvents Nonmetal halides Diatomic molecules ECHA InfoCard ID from Wikidata Chembox having GHS data Articles containing unverified chemical infoboxes Chembox image size set Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata CS1 errors: ISBN date Wikipedia articles with citations needing edition from April 2026 Pages with missing ISBNs Commons category link is on Wikidata