Copper(II) fluoride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula CuF2. The anhydrous form is a white, ionic, crystalline, hygroscopic salt with a distorted rutile-type crystal structure, similar to other fluorides of chemical formulae MF2 (where M is a metal). The dihydrate, CuF2·2H2O, is blue in colour.[3]

Copper(II) fluoride
Ball-and-stick model of the unit cell of copper(II) fluoride
Unit cell of the anhydrous form
Ball-and-stick model of packing in the crystal structure of copper(II) fluoride
Ball-and-stick model of crystal packing in the anhydrous form
Actual picture
Dihydrate
Names
IUPAC name
Copper difluoride
Other names
Cupric fluoride; Copper fluoride; Copper (2 ) Difluoride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.225 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-147-3
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Cu.2FH/h;2*1H/q 2;;/p-2 checkY
    Key: GWFAVIIMQDUCRA-UHFFFAOYSA-L checkY
  • InChI=1/Cu.2FH/h;2*1H/q 2;;/p-2
    Key: GWFAVIIMQDUCRA-NUQVWONBAF
  • [Cu 2].[F-].[F-]
Properties
CuF2
Molar mass 101.543 g/mol (anhydrous)
137.573 g/mol (dihydrate)
Appearance White crystalline powder
When hydrated: Blue
Density 4.23 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
2.934 g/cm3 (dihydrate)[1]
Melting point 836 °C (1,537 °F; 1,109 K) (anhydrous)
130 °C (dihydrate, decomposes)
Boiling point 1,676 °C (3,049 °F; 1,949 K) (anhydrous)
1050.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 1 mg/m3 (as Cu)[2]
REL (Recommended)
TWA 1 mg/m3 (as Cu)[2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
TWA 100 mg/m3 (as Cu)[2]
Related compounds
Other anions
Copper(II) bromide
Copper(II) chloride
Other cations
Silver(II) fluoride
Cobalt(II) fluoride
Related compounds
Copper(I) fluoride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure

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Copper(II) fluoride has a monoclinic crystal structure[4] and cannot achieve a higher-symmetry structure. It forms rectangular prisms with a parallelogram base.[5] Each copper ion has four neighbouring fluoride ions at 1.93 Å separation and two further away at 2.27 Å.[3] This distorted octahedral [4 2] coordination is a consequence of the Jahn–Teller effect in d9 copper(II),[6] and leads to a distorted rutile structure similar to that of chromium(II) fluoride, CrF2, which is a d4 compound.[3]

Coordination in copper(II) fluoride[3][4]
Copper coordination Fluorine coordination
   

Uses

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Cupric fluoride catalyzes the decomposition of nitric oxides in emission control systems.[7]

Copper (II) fluoride can be used to make fluorinated aromatic hydrocarbons by reacting with aromatic hydrocarbons in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at temperatures above 450 °C (842 °F). This reaction is simpler than the Sandmeyer reaction, but is only effective in making compounds that can survive at the temperature used. A coupled reaction using oxygen and 2 HF regenerates the copper(II) fluoride, producing water.[8] This method has been proposed as a "greener" method of producing fluoroaromatics since it avoids producing toxic waste products such as ammonium fluoride.

 

Chemistry

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Copper(II) fluoride can be synthesized from copper and fluorine at temperatures of 400 °C (752 °F). It occurs as a direct reaction.

Cu F2 → CuF2

It loses fluorine in the molten stage at temperatures above 950 °C (1742 °F).

2CuF2 → 2CuF F2
2CuF → CuF2 Cu

The complex anions of CuF3, CuF42− and CuF64− are formed if CuF2 is exposed to substances containing fluoride ions F.

Solubility

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Copper(II) fluoride is slightly soluble in water, but starts to decompose when it is in hot water, producing basic F and Cu(OH) ions.[citation needed]

Toxicity

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There is little specific information on the toxicity of Copper(II) fluoride.

Copper toxicity can affect the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Serious conditions include metal fume fever, and hemolysis of red blood cells. Copper can also cause damage to the liver and other major organs.

Metal fluorides are generally safe at low levels and are added to water in many countries to protect against tooth decay. At higher levels they can cause toxic effects ranging from nausea and vomiting to tremors, breathing problems, serious convulsions and even coma. Brain and kidney damage can result. Chronic exposure can cause losses in bone density, weight loss and anorexia.

Hazards

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Experiments using copper(II) fluoride should be conducted in a fume hood because metal oxide fumes can occur. The combination of acids with copper(II) fluoride may lead to the production of hydrogen fluoride, which is highly toxic and corrosive.

References

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  1. ^ Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
  2. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0150". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ a b c d Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 1184–1185. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  4. ^ a b Fischer, P.; Hälg, W.; Schwarzenbach, D.; Gamsjäger, H. (1974). "Magnetic and crystal structure of copper(II) fluoride". J. Phys. Chem. Solids. 35 (12): 1683–1689. doi:10.1016/S0022-3697(74)80182-4.
  5. ^ C. Billy; H. M. Haendler (1957). "The Crystal Structure of Copper(II) Fluoride". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 79 (5): 1049–51. doi:10.1021/ja01562a011.
  6. ^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 1190–1191. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  7. ^ Meshri, Dayal T. (2000), "Fluorine compounds, inorganic, copper", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, New York: John Wiley, doi:10.1002/0471238961.0315161613051908.a01, ISBN 9780471238966
  8. ^ M. A. Subramanian; L. E. Manzer (2002). "A "Greener" Synthetic Route for Fluoroaromatics via Copper (II) Fluoride". Science. 297 (5587): 1665. doi:10.1126/science.1076397. PMID 12215637. S2CID 32697750.
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