nitrosyl fluoride

Chemical Properties

Colorless gas.Attacks glass severely and corrodes quartz.

Physical properties

Colorless gas when pure; often appears bluish because of impurities; density 2.176 g/L; liquefies at -56°C; density of liquid 1.326g/mL at its boiling point; solidifies at -134°C; density of solid 1.719 g/cm³; reacts with water.

Uses

Oxidizer in rocket propellants; stabilizing agent for liquid SO3; fluorinating agent.

Preparation

Nitrosyl fluoride may be prepared by the reaction of fluorine with nitric oxide:
F₂ + 2NO → 2FNO
Nitrosyl fluoride also can be obtained by heating nitrosyl fluborate, NOBF₄, and sodium fluoride:
NOBF₄ + NaF → NaBF₄ + FNO
Nitrosyl fluoborate required for the above preparation may be obtained by dissolving boric acid in 40% HF, concentrating the solution till it fumes, and purifying the NOBF₄ formed by sublimation in a vacuum.
Nitrosyl fluoride also can be produced by the action of nitrosyl chloride with silver fluoride:
NOCl + AgF → FNO + AgCl
All preparations must be done in complete absence of water.

Hazard

Toxic by inhalation, irritant to skin and mucous membranes.

Safety Profile

A poison. A severe irritant to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Reacts vigorously with glass; corrodes quartz. Explosive reaction with alkenes, oxygen difluoride. Incandescent reaction with metals (e.g., antimony, bismuth,tin, sodium); nonmetals (e.g., a

Raw materials

Preparation Products