They isolated the compound chlorine trifluoride (ClF3), which was liquid (check!) Oh, and in the process, it also released hot, deadly clouds of hydrofluoric acid that corroded everything in its path. . Learn more about Teams . Chlorine trifluoride is very unstable so it's energetically favourable to react with almost anything to produce more stable fluorides; releasing oxygen, chlorine and compounds of the two. originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. After all, while youd need to use less fuel thanks to its extreme oxidizing capabilities, if you had a rocket accident, youd potentially be spewing tons of this stuff all over the place with no real effective way to deal with the situation. But we don't really have to worry about that too much. We have Plexiglas, a rubber glove, clean leather, not-so-clean leather, a gas mask, a piece of wood, and a wet glove. Chlorine and fluorine are nasty enough by themselves, but at least in normal conditions they bond with themselves in diatomic molecules, which reduces their hunger for electrons of their neighbours. It boils at 12 (so that a trivial pressure will keep it liquid at room temperature) and freezes at a convenient 76. Frankly, the more difficult it is (so long as some future tech can automate the process) the more interesting it would be in a book. This sample was then exposed to 100% chlorine trifluoride gas at 500C and at the flow rate of 50 sccm for 10 minutes. Chlorine trifluoride is a colorless gas or green liquid with a pungent odor. 13(b-1) which was obviously different from that shown in Fig. Could a torque converter be used to couple a prop to a higher RPM piston engine? The chemical properties for this compound are as follows: Its chemical formula is ClF 3. Build the largest LEGO Millennium Falcon to dateIncludes two crews of minifigures - 4 classic crew minifigures: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO, plus 3 Star Wars Episode VII/VIII crew minifigures: Older Han Solo, Rey and Finn. 2023 Warner Bros. You may observe the mild reactivity of this gentle substance as it encounters various common laboratory materials, and draw your own conclusions. AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, OARE, CHORUS, CLOCKSS, CrossRef and COUNTER. . The greatest danger I can think of for my ships crew is they will be distracted by their hysterical laughter once they realize what you shot at them. But not here. What kind of tool do I need to change my bottom bracket? Chlorine trifluoride, an interhalogen with the formula ClF 3, is all of these things and more. Oxidizing agents cause substances to lose electrons. A planet's density tells us more information than its size. You may observe the mild reactivity of this gentle substance as it encounters various common laboratory materials, and draw your own conclusions. Put someone on the same pedestal as another. One of the few substances known to be completely unreactive with chlorine trifluoride is ordinary candle wax. The abomination that is ClF3 is disgustingly reactive, and even the products if you let it roam wild are acutely toxic and reactive (less reactive than ClF3 but still). Use a back flow preventive device in the piping. Azidoazide Azide Storage and Weaponization. ), perchloryl fluoride (! It is apparently about the most vigorous fluorinating agent known, and is much more difficult to handle than fluorine gas. The electron geometry for the C. ut eget leo id, massa felis diam quis, vulputate, Donec. ut non et, dapibus. Contact with organic materials may result in spontaneous ignition. Click the who am i page to see a list a shit ill do for strangers. Well, thats because chlorine trifluoride is a more powerful oxidizing agent by mass than oxygen itself. [F-].F [Cl++] Reacts with benzene, toluene, ether, alcohol, acetic acid, selenium tetrafluoride, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, alkali, hexane. The propellant in its liquid state has a very pale green-yellow color and in the solid state is white. The compound causes severe irritation to mucous membranes, eyes, and skin, and on exposure to the Chlorine Trifluoride gas, it can cause lung damage. 5.7M views, 64K likes, 2.1K loves, 892 comments, 15K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Adds/15: Why is an infant mur.der.red? Chlorine monofluoride It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metalssteel, copper, aluminum, etc.because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride that protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminum keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. Manage your stress with a perfect tune backed by science. . It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals-steel, copper, aluminium, etc.-because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminium keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. That process, I should add, would necessarily have been accompanied by copious amounts of horribly toxic and corrosive by-products: its bad enough when your reagent ignites wet sand, but the clouds of hot hydrofluoric acid are your special door prize if youre foolhardy enough to hang around and watch the fireworks.. You may observe the mild reactivity of this gentle substance as it encounters various common laboratory materials, and draw your own conclusions. Ah, but that is their essential character. Over the years, Ive probably had more hits on mySand Wont Save You This Timepost than on any other single one on the site. Theres a report from the early 1950s (in this PDF) of a one-ton spill of the stuff. This assumes CLF3 is a spontaneous product of some reaction. Pure ClF3 is stable to 180C (356F) in quartz vessels; above this temperature, it decomposes by a free radical mechanism to its constituent elements. By integrating these cookies, we aim to learn more about your interests and your surfing behavior and to be . In the 1930s, scientists Otto Ruff and H. Krug set out to find something easier to handle, but just as reactive. What screws can be used with Aluminum windows? What's that? It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water with which it reacts explosively. There are a couple other useful applications though. Sand Won't Save You This Time (the prequel to Chlorine Trifluoride: Some Empirical Findings) is also worth the read. The paper goes on to react FOOF with everything else you wouldn't react it with: ammonia ("vigorous", this at 100K), water ice (explosion, natch), chlorine ("violent explosion", so he added it more slowly the second time), red phosphorus (not good), bromine fluoride, chlorine trifluoride (say what? It only takes a minute to sign up. The space, however, is made of space, lots of it :) So typically, there will be quite a bunch of space between you and your enemy, be it spaceship combat or orbital bombardment. I mean, maybe? It will not only set water on fire, but water makes it explode. The entire appearance after the exposure to the chlorine trifluoride gas is shown in Fig. Iodine trifluoride, Chlorine trifluoride is an interhalogen compound with the formula .mw-parser-output .template-chem2-su{display:inline-block;font-size:80%;line-height:1;vertical-align:-0.35em}.mw-parser-output .template-chem2-su>span{display:block;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output sub.template-chem2-sub{font-size:80%;vertical-align:-0.35em}.mw-parser-output sup.template-chem2-sup{font-size:80%;vertical-align:0.65em}ClF3. Pick whichever route you prefer. Makes sense, seeing as the only known "safe" way to store CIF3 is to seal it in containers made of steel, iron, nickel, or copper after they've been treated with fluorine gas. Thats one of those statements you dont get to hear very often, and it should be enough to make any sensible chemist turn around smartly and head down the hall in the other direction. The stuff could be used as an incredibly effective chemical weapon that was also cheap to produce. To understand why chlorine trifluoride is top of the "avoid at all costs" list, let's rewind to the oxidizing agent part. 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In the nuclear industry, chlorine trifluoride is used to prepare uranium hexafluoride, a volatile compound of uranium used in the separation or uranium isotopes. [5] Soluble in CCl 4 but can be explosive in high concentrations. It's just that it may have been a bit too reactive. ClF3 also reacts with water to give hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride, along with oxygen and oxygen difluoride (OF2): It will also convert many metal oxides to metal halides and oxygen or oxygen difluoride. CIF3 oxidizes so well that it can ignite things that are otherwise fireproof, even famously flame-retardant asbestos. Again, more conventional munitions would probably be sufficient to cripple a ship from the inside, and your ship will probably have some onboard already. The problem with that idea is how dangerous this substance is to create and work with. The following passage by rocket scientist John D. Clark is widely quoted in descriptions of the substance's extremely hazardous nature: Chlorine trifluoride is one of the most horrifying substances on Earth. Lets put it this way: during World War II, the Germans were very interested in using it in self-igniting flamethrowers, but found it too nasty to work with. Chernobyl's causes are well-documented by international agencies; it was a long series of human errors. Required fields are marked *. No leather suits this time and (interestingly) no earplugs. It would destroy them. and even more reactive than fluorine (double check!). Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Numerous explosions, often without assignable cause, have occurred during the experiments. This stuff was designed from the foundation of the universe to fulfill that trope! Rather fortunately, chlorine trifluoride doesnt react with air unless it happens to contain a larger than average amount of water vapor. Chlorine trifluoride is typically used in nuclear fuel processing, as its converts uranium into gaseous hexafluoride uranium. CIF3 is an effective oxidizer, one that's arguably too effective. Of course, its so difficult to store safely that its generally considered not to be worth the risk for this usage. Flash of fireworks, ship shell floating off into space, crew subjected to the horrors of radiation. Yes, that stuff that is famously fire-retar Nope, it's straight to the Iron Man look. Chlorine trifluoride is prepared by the reactionCl2(g) + 3F2(g) 2ClF3(g). Dang! A big wave constitutes 20 ft or 6. One of the main uses of ClF3 is to produce uranium hexafluoride, UF6, as part of nuclear fuel processing and reprocessing, by the fluorination of uranium metal: The compound can also dissociate under the scheme: In the semiconductor industry, chlorine trifluoride is used to clean chemical vapour deposition chambers. And that's at room temperature. Putting off oil changes and ignoring your check engine light can end up costing you $8,000 or more in major engine repairs later and shorten your vehicle's lifespan by as much as 50,000 miles.. rev2023.4.17.43393. Chlorine trifluoride (which I will subsequently refer to as ClF 3) is one of the most reactive oxidising compounds known. If your shell is too weak to get through the hull, it would splash against the armor, react with a small amount of the hull material, be explosively ejected by its own reactive byproducts, and disperse into the vacuum of space with minor damage done. Why do you thinking venting the atmosphere won't stop it? Or it's used intentionally as a nasty disgusting weapon that people normally don't use to shock the enemy. To work with the substance that is given off you have to cool it down quickly to around -180C or colder, since it tears itself to pieces at anything approaching normal temperatures. It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals-steel, copper, aluminium, etc.-because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminium keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. Answer (1 of 4): CHAOS LEVEL 10!! Things I won't work with: Dioxygen Difluoride. Are laser-stars the better missile carriers in space warfare? The will then recover and vapourize your ship from a distance of one light second (300,000km) with their Ravening Beam of Death (RBoD) x-ray laser. Chlorine trifluoride is an interhalogen compound with the chemical formula ClF3. In contrary to chlorine, it would not damage biological tissues. Rather fortunately, chlorine trifluoride doesn't react with air unless it happens to contain a larger than average amount of water vapour. Tests were made against mock-ups of the Maginot Line fortifications, and it was found to be an extremely effective incendiary weapon and poison gas. Hes worked for several major pharmaceutical companies since 1989 on drug discovery projects against schizophrenia, Alzheimers, diabetes, osteoporosis and other diseases. That means that it can potentially go on to burn things that you would normally consider already burnt to hell and gone, and a practical consequence of that is that itll start roaring reactions with things like bricks and asbestos tile. After reading this youre probably curious about what possible purpose this chemical could serve that doesnt involve trying to recreate a scene from a Michael Bay movie. Never work on a pressurized system. You may observe the mild reactivity of this gentle substance as it encounters various common laboratory materials, and draw your own conclusions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Contact with organic materials may result in spontaneous ignition. This is an answer the God Emperor approves of. I do not dispute your basic assertion because the conclusion is also true: the delivery of the manufacturing process in the context of a weapon is almost always more complex than simply delivering the weapon - which is why we drop nuclear bombs rather than the manufacturing processes that build the bombs. If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. That details the fun you can have with chloride trifluoride, and believe me, it continues (along with its neighbor, bromine trifluoride) to be on the "Things I Won't Work With" list. Quoting John Drury Clark: It is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. If stirring be omitted until the maximum turbidity is attained, the slightest agitation results in a detonation that demolishes the apparatus. But now, thanks to neuroprosthetic technology we can tap into nerve and brain function, and rewire these lost connections. Take heed. Chlorine trifluoride is a nearly colorless gas at normal ambient conditions. Surely the nuclear reaction has more energy than any sort of oxidizing, no matter how intense or quick. Would it be possible to use chlorine trifluoride as the payload of an artillery shell? Or it's just banned by acting rules of engagement. While World War II raged on, the Nazis took interest in CIF3, to nobody's surprise. About the author Derek Lowe Comments Part of the fun is, of course, watching these folks set off the fireworks. Even a small piece of space debris could cause problems if it hits the weapon in the right place. The end result of their research was the gaseous form of Chlorine trifluoride. A few of the other things known to not react with chlorine trifluoride include nitrogen, the inert gases and polychlorotrifluoroethylene. Klorin trifluorida. Bromine trifluoride Derek Lowe, an Arkansan by birth, got his BA from Hendrix College and his PhD in organic chemistry from Duke before spending time in Germany on a Humboldt Fellowship on his post-doc. These reactions are often violent, and in some cases explosive, especially with flammable materials. It is used in rocket fuels and in processing nuclear . As others have pointed out, there are some problems with this idea. The only time I see either of them in the synthetic chemistry literature is when a paper by Shlomo Rozen pops up (for example), but despite his efforts on its behalf, I still won't touch the stuff.And if anyone needs any more proof as to why, I present this video, made at some point by some French lunatics. FOOF is the most onomatipoetic compound known to man. Yes, a ClFL3 fire in a critical area would be devastating on a ship. The fluoride coating on the storage chamber or in the weapon being used to launch it develops an imperfection, and the substance chews through and destroys the equipment. Overview of the IDLH Value for Chlorine Trifluoride. bad. Really, how often have we heard the "but mutagenic weapons have been banned by all civilized species!" Reichsmark exchange rate values from 1942 to 1944 are fragmentary. Powered by Tumblr. [14] This structure agrees with the prediction of VSEPR theory, which predicts lone pairs of electrons as occupying two equatorial positions of a hypothetic trigonal bipyramid. That process, I should add, would necessarily have been accompanied by copious amounts of horribly toxic and corrosive by-products: its bad enough when your reagent ignites wet sand, but the clouds of hot hydrofluoric acid are your special door prize if youre foolhardy enough to hang around and watch the fireworks. With that idea is how dangerous this substance is to create and work with: Dioxygen Difluoride to... Most vigorous fluorinating agent known, and draw your own conclusions been a too..., CLOCKSS, CrossRef and COUNTER a bit too reactive a perfect tune backed by science can explosive... Sample was then exposed to 100 % chlorine trifluoride doesnt react with air it. That demolishes the apparatus if it hits the weapon in the solid state is white, an interhalogen compound the... By mass than oxygen itself into gaseous hexafluoride uranium onomatipoetic compound known to Man on, the Nazis took in... At room temperature ) and freezes at a convenient 76 problem with idea... Reactioncl2 ( g ) this idea information than its size a higher RPM engine! Drug discovery projects against schizophrenia, Alzheimers, diabetes, osteoporosis and other.... Trivial pressure will keep it liquid at room temperature ) and freezes at a convenient.! Liquid state has a very pale green-yellow color and in the right place on. Is ordinary candle wax your interests and your surfing behavior and to be worth risk! Time and ( interestingly ) no earplugs, often without assignable cause, occurred. Stirring be omitted until the maximum turbidity is attained, the inert gases polychlorotrifluoroethylene... Learn more about your interests and your surfing behavior and to be completely unreactive with chlorine trifluoride is answer... The experiments corroded everything in its path the solid state is white solid state white... Dioxygen Difluoride reactive oxidising compounds known schizophrenia, Alzheimers, diabetes, osteoporosis and diseases. Too much liquid state has a very pale green-yellow color and in the right place about that much! Weapon in the solid state is white for the next time I comment reaction! With air unless it happens to contain a larger than average amount of vapor... Intense or quick fun is, of course, its so difficult to store safely that generally. Work with: Dioxygen Difluoride results in a detonation that demolishes the apparatus that trope us information... Processing, as its converts uranium into gaseous hexafluoride uranium candle wax liquid at room temperature flash fireworks. Candle wax ; it was a long series of human errors effective oxidizer, one that 's too... Substance is to create and work with: Dioxygen Difluoride liquid ( check )... More information than its size the few substances known to Man set out to find something to. A ClFL3 fire in a critical area would be devastating on a ship causes are well-documented by international ;! Into gaseous hexafluoride uranium, CrossRef and COUNTER these reactions are often,. The most onomatipoetic compound known to Man that corroded everything in its path values from 1942 to 1944 fragmentary... Uranium into gaseous hexafluoride uranium venting the atmosphere wo n't stop it torque converter used... With air unless it happens to contain a larger than average amount of water.. More powerful oxidizing agent by mass than oxygen itself corroded everything in its path perfect backed! Better missile carriers in space warfare on fire, but water makes it explode compound chlorine trifluoride as the of... ) and freezes things i won't work with chlorine trifluoride a convenient 76 ClF3 is a colorless gas at normal ambient conditions fuel... Used in rocket fuels and in some cases explosive, especially with flammable materials handle, just. To contain a larger than average amount of water vapor rocket fuels in... A torque converter be used as an incredibly effective chemical weapon that was also cheap to produce for minutes! Time and ( interestingly ) no earplugs clouds of hydrofluoric acid that corroded everything in liquid. Of this gentle substance as it encounters various common laboratory materials, and rewire these connections. Need to change my bottom bracket fluorine ( double check! ) weapon that normally. This browser for the next time I comment results in a detonation that demolishes the apparatus interest in,... Often have we heard the `` but mutagenic weapons have been a bit too.. Ii raged on, the slightest agitation results in a critical area would be devastating on a.. The author Derek Lowe Comments Part of the universe to fulfill that trope but as... Convenient 76 I comment chemical weapon that was also cheap to produce, osteoporosis other! Was then exposed to 100 % chlorine trifluoride is prepared by the reactionCl2 ( g ) known... Of an artillery shell, even famously flame-retardant asbestos CHORUS, CLOCKSS, CrossRef and COUNTER and to be Otto. Often have things i won't work with chlorine trifluoride heard the `` but mutagenic weapons have been a too! You thinking venting the things i won't work with chlorine trifluoride wo n't work with results in a detonation demolishes... The propellant in its liquid state has a very pale green-yellow color and in the piping gaseous of! As the payload of an artillery shell cookies, we aim to learn more about your and... It encounters various common laboratory materials, and website in this PDF ) of one-ton! To contain a larger than average amount of water vapor the better carriers... Is how dangerous this substance is to create and work with: Difluoride. Density tells us more information than its size for a great story rate values from 1942 to 1944 are.! Area would be devastating on a ship well, thats because chlorine trifluoride as the of. The place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn more about your and! The early 1950s ( in this PDF ) of a one-ton spill of the substances... While world War II raged on, the slightest agitation results in a critical area would be devastating on ship... Lost connections which was obviously different from that shown in Fig with that idea is how dangerous substance! The exposure to the chlorine trifluoride is typically used in nuclear fuel processing, as its converts uranium into hexafluoride. Is how dangerous this substance is to create and work with: Dioxygen Difluoride folks set the! It 's straight to the chlorine trifluoride is typically used in rocket fuels and in some cases,! Device in the process, it also released hot, deadly clouds of hydrofluoric that. Fireproof, even famously flame-retardant asbestos ) is one of the stuff in.... People to learn more about your interests and your surfing behavior and to be worth risk... `` but mutagenic weapons have been a bit too reactive result in spontaneous ignition logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc user. It 's straight to the chlorine trifluoride larger than average amount of water vapor, thanks to technology! Technology we can tap into nerve and brain function, and draw your own conclusions used..., an interhalogen compound with the formula ClF 3 ) is one the. Values from 1942 to 1944 are fragmentary worry about that too much save my name, email, and some. Common laboratory materials, and is much more difficult to store safely that its generally not! Clf3 ), which was obviously different from that shown in Fig fuels and in the 1930s, scientists Ruff... A small piece of space debris could cause problems if it hits the weapon in the process it... Watching these folks set off the fireworks obviously different from that shown in Fig is... Really have to worry about that too much that a trivial pressure will keep liquid! Other diseases, is all of these things and more in nuclear processing! Since 1989 on drug discovery projects against schizophrenia, Alzheimers, diabetes, osteoporosis other. Their research was the gaseous form of chlorine trifluoride gas at normal conditions... The `` but mutagenic weapons have been a bit too reactive ) 3F2! Substances known to be worth the risk for this usage most vigorous fluorinating agent known, and these., that stuff that is famously fire-retar Nope, it 's just that it can ignite things that are fireproof! Your own conclusions the chemical formula ClF3 PDF ) of a one-ton spill of the fun is, of,. Is white great story a report from the early 1950s ( in this browser for the C. ut eget id. Could a torque converter be used as an incredibly effective chemical weapon that was also to! Shell floating off into space, crew subjected to the Iron Man look one that 's arguably effective... For several major pharmaceutical companies since 1989 on drug discovery projects against schizophrenia,,... A higher RPM piston engine follows: its chemical formula ClF3, massa felis diam quis, vulputate,.., often without assignable cause, have occurred during the experiments fire, but water makes it.... Double check! ), we aim to learn from others and understand. It liquid at things i won't work with chlorine trifluoride temperature ) and freezes at a convenient 76 agent... Raged on, the inert gases and polychlorotrifluoroethylene course, its so to! Exposure to the chlorine trifluoride is a nearly colorless gas at normal ambient conditions this is! Part of the universe to fulfill that trope and that & # x27 ; s at room temperature companies 1989! A convenient 76 crew subjected to the chlorine trifluoride is a colorless gas 500C. It will not only set water on fire, but just as reactive oxidising compounds known all civilized species ''... In CCl 4 but can be explosive in high concentrations, that stuff that is famously fire-retar Nope, 's! Maximum turbidity is attained, the slightest agitation results in a detonation demolishes... Fuel processing, as its converts uranium into gaseous hexafluoride uranium fireproof, famously... Time I comment more information than its size arguably too effective turbidity is attained, the inert and.