Chlorine monofluoride

Geometry

The molecular structure in the gas phase was determined by microwave spectroscopy; the bond length is re = 1.628341(4) Å.

The bond length in the crystalline ClF is 1.628(1) Å; the lengthening relative to the free molecule is due to an interaction of the type F-Br···ClMe with a distance of 2.640(1) Å. In its molecular packing it shows very short intermolecular Cl···Cl contacts of 3.070(1) Å between neighboring molecules.

Reactivity

Chlorine monofluoride is a versatile fluorinating agent, converting metals and non-metals to their fluorides and releasing in the process. For example, it converts tungsten to tungsten hexafluoride and selenium to selenium tetrafluoride: : :

FCl can also chlorofluorinate compounds, either by addition across a multiple bond or via oxidation. For example, it adds fluorine and chlorine to the carbon of carbon monoxide, yielding carbonyl chloride fluoride COClF, an intermediate between phosgene and carbonyl fluoride. :CO + ClF → [[File:Carbonyl-chlorofluoride-2D.png|50px]]

Safety

Chlorine monofluoride is extremely reactive. It instantly destroys glass and ignites organic material on contact, reacts violently with water, is highly corrosive to mucous membranes and the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, and may cause permanent blindness.

References

References

1. (May 1980). "Millimeter wave measurements of the rotational spectra of ClF, BrF, BrCl, ICl, and IBr". The Journal of Chemical Physics.
2. (1997-08-04). "The Surprising Crystal Packing of Chlorinefluoride". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English.
3. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Chlorine-monofluoride