Plutonium tetrafluoride

Monoclinic

A = 1261 pm b = 1057 pm c = 827 pm β = 126.16 °

Plutonium tetrafluoride

Red-brown crystalline solid

Fixed

7.10 g · cm -3

1037 ° C

-425 ± 8 kcal · mol -1

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Plutonium (IV ) fluoride is a chemical compound consisting of the elements of plutonium and fluorine. It has the formula PuF4 and belongs to the class of fluorides. It is subject to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.

Representation

Plutonium (IV ) fluoride is formed by the reaction of plutonium dioxide ( PuO2 ) or plutonium (III ) fluoride ( PuF3 ) with hydrogen fluoride ( HF) in the O2 stream at 450 to 600 ° C. The oxygen here has the important purpose of preventing a reduction of the product by small quantities of hydrogen, for the most part located in the HF gas.

By laser irradiation of the plutonium hexafluoride at a wavelength below 520 nm there is a degradation to plutonium (V ) fluoride, and fluorine; irradiating further, we obtain plutonium (IV ) fluoride.

Properties

Plutonium (IV ) fluoride is a red-brown crystalline solid which melts at 1037 ° C. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the lattice parameters a = 1261 pm, b = 1057 pm, c = 827 pm, and β = 126.16 °.

Safety

Classifications according to the Hazardous Substances Ordinance are not available, although the chemical toxicity is known. Important are the based on the radioactivity hazards, unless it is for a relevant amount of substance.