Aluminium monofluoride
Encyclopedia
Aluminium monofluoride is the chemical substance
with the formula
AlF. This elusive species is formed by the reaction between aluminium trifluoride
and metallic aluminium at elevated temperatures but quickly reverts back to the reactants when cooled. Clusters of derived from related aluminium(I) halides can be stabilized using specialized ligand
s.
This molecule has been detected in the interstellar medium
, where molecules are so dilute that intermolecular collisions
are unimportant.
Chemical substance
In chemistry, a chemical substance is a form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. It cannot be separated into components by physical separation methods, i.e. without breaking chemical bonds. They can be solids, liquids or gases.Chemical substances are...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
AlF. This elusive species is formed by the reaction between aluminium trifluoride
Aluminium fluoride
Aluminium fluoride is an inorganic compound used primarily in the production of aluminium. This colourless solid can be prepared synthetically but also occurs in nature.-Production and occurrence:...
and metallic aluminium at elevated temperatures but quickly reverts back to the reactants when cooled. Clusters of derived from related aluminium(I) halides can be stabilized using specialized ligand
Ligand
In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding between metal and ligand generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's electron pairs. The nature of metal-ligand bonding can range from...
s.
This molecule has been detected in the interstellar medium
Interstellar medium
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, dust, and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space...
, where molecules are so dilute that intermolecular collisions
Collision theory
Collision theory is a theory proposed by Max Trautz and William Lewis in 1916 and 1918, that qualitatively explains how chemical reactions occur and why reaction rates differ for different reactions. For a reaction to occur the reactant particles must collide. Only a certain fraction of the total...
are unimportant.