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working with NaF and KF

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Black_Forest:
Hi!
I would like to ask if you have some experience how is to work with NaF and KF at 1000°C but in the lab not under fumecoboard.
I know that is toxic but I do not see at the moment how to protect myself since the lab is not well equipped
Thank you for your advice!

woelen:
If you want to use NaF and/or KF at 1000 C, and if you don't have any protection, then PLEASE DON"T DO THIS!

Fluorides are insidiously toxic and really nasty. At ordinary temperatures, NaF and KF are not that dangerous, but on addition of even weak acids, the VERY dangerous HF is formed, but at temps of 1000 C or so, you may have some volatility of the fluoride.

Many people think of fluoride, just as the other halogenides (chloride, bromide, iodide), but this is a big mistake. The other halogenides are almost non-toxic (at least, if the cation is non-toxic) and their acids, although corrosive, are not long-term toxins and only are toxic due to their corrosiveness. The fluorides and the acid HF are of a totally different nature and the concentrated acids HCl, HBr and HI are childrens toys, compared to HF or hot metal fluorides. Some of the greater 19th century chemists (Davis, Moissan, Scheele) have suffered from very severe health problems due to fluoride poisoning over a longer time and IIRC some of these great chemist died a prematurely due to the bad effects of fluoride poisoning.

Black_Forest:
woelen,

I agree with you.
When I was PhD student in G****** people were paying much attention to such things but now, in U** I cannot believe that is allowed to work in such bad conditions in a such prestigious school.
Personally I have no motivation to work and I feel very bad.

Borek:

--- Quote from: Oxygenne on August 20, 2006, 05:33:47 PM ---When I was PhD student in Germany people were paying much attention to such things but now, in USA I cannot believe that is allowed to work in such bad conditions in a such prestigious school.
--- End quote ---

AFAIK Americans can be quite paranoid about safety so it sounds incredible. Can you share some details?

Black_Forest:
you ask me
Can you share some details?
say which details do you want more precisely  ;D

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