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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: platte on November 18, 2006, 09:00:36 PM

Title: fluoride
Post by: platte on November 18, 2006, 09:00:36 PM

I am a dental hygienist and when I was in school we referred the chemical symbol for fluoride as fl2.  I thought it was because the fluoride ion was unstable by itself is this true and if not where could I have gotten this from?  There are others out there that record fluoride as fl2 also.

Linda

Title: Re: fluoride
Post by: Borek on November 18, 2006, 09:17:26 PM

Fluorine: F or F₂ - F as it is a chemical symbol, F₂ as fluorine is diatomic gas.

Fluroide is a salt of hydrofluoric acid HF, so formula will depend on the cation - for example NaF is sodium fluoride.

No idea what fl2 is about.

Title: Re: fluoride
Post by: mdlhvn on November 19, 2006, 12:10:04 AM

Quote from: platte on November 18, 2006, 09:00:36 PM

I thought it was because the fluoride ion was unstable by itself is this true?

No, it is not true. Fluoride ion, F- was stable in solution. Fluorine atom, F was unstable because it is strongly active.

Further explanation came from Borek!