fluorine

American  

[floor-een, -in, flawr-, flohr-] / ˈflʊər in, -ɪn, ˈflɔr-, ˈfloʊr- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. the most reactive nonmetallic element, a pale-yellow, corrosive, toxic gas that occurs combined, especially in fluorite, cryolite, phosphate rock, and other minerals. F; 18.9984; 9.

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fluorine British  

/ ˈflʊəriːn, ˈflʊərɪn /

noun

1. a toxic pungent pale yellow gas of the halogen group that is the most electronegative and reactive of all the elements, occurring principally in fluorspar and cryolite: used in the production of uranium, fluorocarbons, and other chemicals. Symbol: F; atomic no: 9; atomic wt: 18.9984032; valency: 1; density: 1.696 kg/m³; relative density: 1.108; freezing pt: –219.62°C; boiling pt: –188.13°C

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fluorine Scientific  

/ flr′ēn′ /

1. A pale-yellow, poisonous, gaseous element of the halogen group. It is highly corrosive and is used to separate certain isotopes of uranium and to make refrigerants and high-temperature plastics. It is also added in fluoride form to the water supply to prevent tooth decay. Atomic number 9; atomic weight 18.9984; melting point −223°C; boiling point −188.14°C; specific gravity of liquid 1.108 (at boiling point); valence 1.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of fluorine

First recorded in 1805–15; fluor(ic) + -ine ¹

Compare meaning

How does fluorine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• fluorine vs. fluoride

Example Sentences

The splintered fluorine atoms, the researchers report, are safely sequestered by reacting them with potassium hydride in solution to form potassium fluoride, a nontoxic ingredient in toothpaste.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 20, 2024

The team first sought to eliminate potential toxic elements such as fluorine and chlorine and metals such as zinc and iron from the candidate ILs.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2024

That’s because they are made up of chains of carbon atoms bonded to fluorine atoms.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2024

One common class of forever chemicals are PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and they are compounds made of chlorine and fluorine nicknamed "forever chemicals" because they essentially never break down.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2024

A poor pharmacist with little in the way of advanced apparatus, he discovered eight elements–chlorine, fluorine, manganese, barium, molybdenum, tungsten, nitrogen, and oxygen–and got credit for none of them.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson