Nitrosyl fluoride ( N O F) is a covalently bonded nitrosyl compound.

Physical properties

The compound is a colorless gas, with bent molecular shape. The VSEPR model explains this geometry via a lone-pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom.

Chemistry

Nitrosyl fluoride is typically produced by direct reaction of

nitric oxide Nitric oxide (nitrogen oxide, nitrogen monooxide, or nitrogen monoxide) is a colorless gas with the formula . It is one of the principal oxides of nitrogen. Nitric oxide is a free radical: it has an unpaired electron, which is sometimes den ...

and

fluorine Fluorine is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at Standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions as pale yellow Diatomic molecule, diatomic gas. Fluorine is extre ...

, although halogenation with a perfluorinated metal salt is also possible. The compound is a highly reactive fluorinating agent that converts many

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

s to their

fluoride Fluoride (). According to this source, is a possible pronunciation in British English. is an Inorganic chemistry, inorganic, Monatomic ion, monatomic Ion#Anions and cations, anion of fluorine, with the chemical formula (also written ), whose ...

s, releasing

in the process: :''n'' NOF + M → MF_''n'' + ''n'' NO For this reason, aqueous NOF solutions are, like

aqua regia Aqua regia (; from Latin, "regal water" or "royal water") is a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, optimally in a molar concentration, molar ratio of 1:3. Aqua regia is a fuming liquid. Freshly prepared aqua regia is colorless, but i ...

, powerful solvents for metals. Absent an oxidizable metal, NOF reacts with

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

to form

nitrous acid Nitrous acid (molecular formula ) is a weak and monoprotic acid known only in solution, in the gas phase, and in the form of nitrite () salts. It was discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who called it " phlogisticated acid of niter". Nitrous ac ...

, which then disproportionates to

nitric acid Nitric acid is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The compound is colorless, but samples tend to acquire a yellow cast over time due to decomposition into nitrogen oxide, oxides of nitrogen. Most com ...

: :NOF + H₂O → HNO₂ + HF :3 HNO₂ → HNO₃ + 2 NO + H₂O These reactions occur in both acidic and basic solutions. Nitrosyl fluoride also forms

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

-like

adduct In chemistry, an adduct (; alternatively, a contraction of "addition product") is a product of a direct addition of two or more distinct molecules, resulting in a single reaction product containing all atoms of all components. The resultant is ...

s with Lewis-acidic

s; for example, BF₃ reacts to give NOBF₄. Similarly, the compound nitrosylates compounds with a free proton; thus

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

s convert to nitrites: :ROH + NOF → RONO + HF

Uses

Nitrosyl fluoride is used as a

solvent A solvent (from the Latin language, Latin ''wikt:solvo#Latin, solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a Solution (chemistry), solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas ...

and as a fluorinating and nitrating agent in

organic synthesis Organic synthesis is a branch of chemical synthesis concerned with the construction of organic compounds. Organic compounds are molecules consisting of combinations of covalently-linked hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms. Within the gen ...

References

External links

WebBook page for NOF

Nitrosyl compounds Oxyfluorides Fluorinating agents Nitrogen(III) compounds Nitrogen oxohalides {{Fluorine compounds