Trifluoromethyl iodide
Encyclopedia
Trifluoroiodomethane, also referred to as trifluoromethyl iodide is a halomethane
with the formula CF3I. It is an experimental alternative to Halon 1301 (CBrF3) in unoccupied areas http://www.afrlhorizons.com/Briefs/0012/ML0008.html. It would be used as a gaseous fire suppression
flooding agent for in-flight aircraft and electronic equipment fires.
-catalyzed α-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones.
In the presence of sunlight or at temperatures above 100°C it undergoes decomposition with hazardous by-products as hydrogen fluoride
(HF), hydrogen iodide
(HI) and carbonyl fluoride
(COF2).
, fluorine
, and iodine
atoms. Although iodine is several hundred times more efficient at destroying stratospheric ozone
than chlorine, experiments have shown that because the weak C-I bond breaks easily under the influence of water (owing to the electron-attracting fluorine atoms), trifluoroiodomethane has an ozone depleting potential less than one-thousandth that of Halon 1301 (0.008-0.01). Its atmospheric lifetime, at less than 1 month, is less than 1 percent that of Halon 1301, and less even than hydrogen chloride
formed from volcano
es.
There is, however, still the problem of the C-F bonds absorbing in the atmospheric window
. Thus, even after decomposition, trifluoroiodomethane is likely to be a very effective greenhouse gas
.
Halomethane
Halomethane compounds are derivatives of methane with one or more of the hydrogen atoms replaced with halogen atoms . Halomethanes are both naturally occurring, especially in marine environments, and man-made, most notably as refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and fumigants...
with the formula CF3I. It is an experimental alternative to Halon 1301 (CBrF3) in unoccupied areas http://www.afrlhorizons.com/Briefs/0012/ML0008.html. It would be used as a gaseous fire suppression
Gaseous fire suppression
Gaseous fire suppression is a term to describe the use of inert gases and chemical agents to extinguish a fire. Also called Clean Agent Fire Suppression. These Agents are governed by the NFPA Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems - NFPA 2001 in the USA, with different standards and...
flooding agent for in-flight aircraft and electronic equipment fires.
Chemistry
It is used in the rhodiumRhodium
Rhodium is a chemical element that is a rare, silvery-white, hard and chemically inert transition metal and a member of the platinum group. It has the chemical symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is composed of only one isotope, 103Rh. Naturally occurring rhodium is found as the free metal, alloyed...
-catalyzed α-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones.
In the presence of sunlight or at temperatures above 100°C it undergoes decomposition with hazardous by-products as hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride is a chemical compound with the formula HF. This colorless gas is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often in the aqueous form as hydrofluoric acid, and thus is the precursor to many important compounds including pharmaceuticals and polymers . HF is widely used in the...
(HF), hydrogen iodide
Hydrogen iodide
Hydrogen iodide is a diatomic molecule. Aqueous solutions of HI are known as iohydroic acid or hydroiodic acid, a strong acid. Gas and aqueous solution are interconvertible...
(HI) and carbonyl fluoride
Carbonyl fluoride
Carbonyl fluoride is the chemical compound with the formula COF2. This gas, like its analog phosgene, is highly toxic. The molecule is planar with C2v symmetry.-Safety:...
(COF2).
Environmental effects
It contains carbonCarbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
, fluorine
Fluorine
Fluorine is the chemical element with atomic number 9, represented by the symbol F. It is the lightest element of the halogen column of the periodic table and has a single stable isotope, fluorine-19. At standard pressure and temperature, fluorine is a pale yellow gas composed of diatomic...
, and iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
atoms. Although iodine is several hundred times more efficient at destroying stratospheric ozone
Ozone depletion
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere , and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon...
than chlorine, experiments have shown that because the weak C-I bond breaks easily under the influence of water (owing to the electron-attracting fluorine atoms), trifluoroiodomethane has an ozone depleting potential less than one-thousandth that of Halon 1301 (0.008-0.01). Its atmospheric lifetime, at less than 1 month, is less than 1 percent that of Halon 1301, and less even than hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen chloride
The compound hydrogen chloride has the formula HCl. At room temperature, it is a colorless gas, which forms white fumes of hydrochloric acid upon contact with atmospheric humidity. Hydrogen chloride gas and hydrochloric acid are important in technology and industry...
formed from volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es.
There is, however, still the problem of the C-F bonds absorbing in the atmospheric window
Atmospheric window
The infrared atmospheric window is the overall dynamic property of the earth's atmosphere, taken as a whole at each place and occasion of interest, that lets some infrared radiation from the cloud tops and land-sea surface pass directly to space without intermediate absorption and re-emission, and...
. Thus, even after decomposition, trifluoroiodomethane is likely to be a very effective greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
.