Copper(I) fluoride
Encyclopedia
Copper fluoride is an inorganic compound
with the chemical formula CuF. Its existence is uncertain. It was reported in 1933 to have a sphalerite-type crystal structure
. Modern textbooks state that CuF is not known, since fluorine is so electronegative that it will always oxidise copper to its +2 oxidation state
. Complexes of CuF such as [(Ph3P)3CuF] are, however, known and well characterised.
. Unlike copper(I) chloride
, copper(I) fluoride tends to disproportionate into copper(II) fluoride and copper in a one to one ratio at ambient conditions, unless it is stabilised through complexation as in the example of [Cu(N2)F].
As a result of this disproportiontion, samples slowly become light cyan in colour, the colour of copper(II) fluoride.
Inorganic compound
Inorganic compounds have traditionally been considered to be of inanimate, non-biological origin. In contrast, organic compounds have an explicit biological origin. However, over the past century, the classification of inorganic vs organic compounds has become less important to scientists,...
with the chemical formula CuF. Its existence is uncertain. It was reported in 1933 to have a sphalerite-type crystal structure
Crystal structure
In mineralogy and crystallography, crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystalline liquid or solid. A crystal structure is composed of a pattern, a set of atoms arranged in a particular way, and a lattice exhibiting long-range order and symmetry...
. Modern textbooks state that CuF is not known, since fluorine is so electronegative that it will always oxidise copper to its +2 oxidation state
Oxidation state
In chemistry, the oxidation state is an indicator of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. The formal oxidation state is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic. Oxidation states are typically represented by...
. Complexes of CuF such as [(Ph3P)3CuF] are, however, known and well characterised.
Synthesis and reactivity
It can be formed by the reduction of copper(II) fluorideCopper(II) fluoride
Copper fluoride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula CuF2. It is a white or green, crystalline, hygroscopic solid. It has a rutile-type crystal structure similar to other fluorides of chemical formulae MF2.-Uses:...
. Unlike copper(I) chloride
Copper(I) chloride
Copper chloride, commonly called cuprous chloride, is the lower chloride of copper, with the formula CuCl. The substance is a white solid sparingly soluble in water, but very soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid...
, copper(I) fluoride tends to disproportionate into copper(II) fluoride and copper in a one to one ratio at ambient conditions, unless it is stabilised through complexation as in the example of [Cu(N2)F].
- CuF → Cu + CuF2
As a result of this disproportiontion, samples slowly become light cyan in colour, the colour of copper(II) fluoride.