Chlorine pentafluoride

Chlorine pentafluoride is an interhalogen compound with formula ClF5.  This colourless gas is a strong oxidant that was once a candidate oxidizer for rockets.  The molecule adopts a square pyramidal structure with C4v symmetry, as confirmed by its high-resolution 19F NMR spectrum.

Preparation
Some of the earliest research on the preparation was classified. It was first prepared by fluorination of chlorine trifluoride at high temperatures and high pressures:
ClF3  +  F2   →   ClF5
ClF  +  2F2   →   ClF5
Cl2  +  5F2   →   2ClF5
CsClF4  +  F2   →   CsF  +  ClF5
NiF2 catalyzes this reaction.

Certain metal fluorides, MClF4 (i.e. KClF4, RbClF4, CsClF4), react with F2 to produce ClF5 and the corresponding alkali metal fluoride.

Reactions
In a highly exothermic reaction, ClF5 reacts with water to produce chloryl fluoride and hydrogen fluoride:
 + 2  →  + 4 

It is also a strong fluorinating agent. At room temperature it reacts readily with all elements (including otherwise "inert" elements like platinum and gold) except noble gases, nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine.

See also
 Chlorine trifluoride
 Hypervalent molecule

References

External links
National Pollutant Inventory - Fluoride and compounds fact sheet
New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet
WebBook page for ClF5

Category:Fluorides
Category:Inorganic chlorine compounds
Category:Interhalogen compounds
Category:Rocket oxidizers
Category:Fluorinating agents
Category:Oxidizing agents