Summary
Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water. Solutions of HF are colorless, acidic and highly corrosive. It is used to make most fluorine-containing compounds; examples include the commonly used pharmaceutical antidepressant medication fluoxetine (Prozac) and the material PTFE (Teflon). Elemental fluorine is produced from it. It is commonly used to etch glass and silicon wafers. The principal use of hydrofluoric acid is in organofluorine chemistry. Many organofluorine compounds are prepared using HF as the fluorine source, including Teflon, fluoropolymers, fluorocarbons, and refrigerants such as freon. Many pharmaceuticals contain fluorine. Most high-volume inorganic fluoride compounds are prepared from hydrofluoric acid. Foremost are Na3AlF6, cryolite, and AlF3, aluminium trifluoride. A molten mixture of these solids serves as a high-temperature solvent for the production of metallic aluminium. Other inorganic fluorides prepared from hydrofluoric acid include sodium fluoride and uranium hexafluoride. It is used in the semiconductor industry as a major component of Wright etch and buffered oxide etch, which are used to clean silicon wafers. In a similar manner it is also used to etch glass by treatment with silicon dioxide to form gaseous or water-soluble silicon fluorides. It can also be used to polish and frost glass. SiO2 + 4 HF → SiF4(g) + 2 H2O SiO2 + 6 HF → H2SiF6 + 2 H2O A 5% to 9% hydrofluoric acid gel is also commonly used to etch all ceramic dental restorations to improve bonding. For similar reasons, dilute hydrofluoric acid is a component of household rust stain remover, in car washes in "wheel cleaner" compounds, in ceramic and fabric rust inhibitors, and in water spot removers. Because of its ability to dissolve iron oxides as well as silica-based contaminants, hydrofluoric acid is used in pre-commissioning boilers that produce high-pressure steam. Hydrofluoric acid is also useful for dissolving rock samples (usually powdered) prior to analysis.
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related courses (8)
MSE-431: Physical chemistry of polymeric materials
The student has a basic understanding of the physical and physicochemical principles which result from the chainlike structure of synthetic macromolecules. The student can predict major characteristic
MSE-101(a): Materials:from chemistry to properties
Ce cours permet l'acquisition des notions essentielles relatives à la structure de la matière, aux équilibres et à la réactivité chimique en liaison avec les propriétés mécaniques, thermiques, électri
CH-221: Chemistry of elements s and p
Introduction to the chemistry of the s & p elements of the periodic table.
Show more
Related lectures (37)
Acids and Bases: Definitions and Equilibrium
Explains acid-base definitions, equilibrium constants, pH scale, conjugate pairs, and buffers.
Organic Chemistry: Acidity Analysis and Resonance Stabilization
Explores acidity analysis, resonance stabilization, and factors influencing acid strength in organic chemistry.
Regularity of Weak Solutions
Explores elliptic PDEs, weak solutions, regularity, and strong solutions, with a focus on classical solutions and proof techniques.
Show more
Related publications (71)

Enhanced Leaching of Zinc Ferrite by the Formation of a Solid Solution With Magnetite in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

The high zinc and iron contents of electric arc furnace (EAF) dust in the forms of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) and magnetite (Fe3O4) make it a valuable secondary source of these metals. ZnFe2O4 and Fe3O4 are known to form a solid solution at all compositions, a ...
SPRINGER2023
Show more
Related concepts (21)
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an inorganic compound with chemical formula . It is a very poisonous, colorless gas or liquid that dissolves in water to yield an aqueous solution termed hydrofluoric acid. It is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often in the form of hydrofluoric acid, and is an important feedstock in the preparation of many important compounds including pharmaceuticals and polymers, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). HF is also widely used in the petrochemical industry as a component of superacids.
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid (orthophosphoric acid, monophosphoric acid or phosphoric(V) acid) is a colorless, odorless phosphorus-containing solid, and inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is commonly encountered as an 85% aqueous solution, which is a colourless, odourless, and non-volatile syrupy liquid. It is a major industrial chemical, being a component of many fertilizers. The compound is an acid. Removal of all three ions gives the phosphate ion .
Fluorine
Fluorine is a chemical element with the symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. As the most electronegative reactive element, it is extremely reactive, as it reacts with all other elements except for the light inert gases. Among the elements, fluorine ranks 24th in universal abundance and 13th in terrestrial abundance.
Show more