Catalog Number
ACM7789755-1
Product Name
CALCIUM FLUORIDE
Category
Electrolytes; Ceramic Materials; Optical Coatings
Synonyms
Calcium difluoride
Description
Calcium fluoride appears as odorless gray powder or granules. Sinks in water. (USCG, 1999);COLOURLESS CRYSTALS OR WHITE HYGROSCOPIC POWDER.
IUPAC Name
Calcium;difluoride
Molecular Formula
CaF2;CaF2;CaF2
Canonical SMILES
[F-].[F-].[Ca+2]
InChI
InChI=1S/Ca.2FH/h;2*1H/q+2;/p-2
InChI Key
WUKWITHWXAAZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Density
3.18 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
Solubility
Slightly soluble in acid, insoluble in acetone
Appearance
White powder or cubic crystals
Application
Calcium fluoride, commonly known as fluorite or fluorspar, is a versatile and colorless crystalline substance with a range of industrial applications. Its low solubility in water and transparency make it ideal for detecting gamma rays and charged particles, albeit with a limitation in gamma-ray spectrometry at higher energies due to its low atomic number. This property also makes it an effective detector for beta particles with minimal backscattering. Additionally, calcium fluoride serves as a crucial material in the production of hydrofluoric acid and in the etching of glass. The compound's high resistance to thermal and mechanical shock allows it to be fabricated into various detector geometries. It is not hygroscopic, making it suitable for a variety of vacuum applications and direct contact with radioactive samples. In the steel industry, it is used as a flux to increase slag fluidity, while in the chemical sector, it is a source for fluorine and its compounds. Furthermore, calcium fluoride is utilized in the optical industry for UV-ray transmission and in the production of enamels, ceramics, and white cement. Its application extends to fluoridating drinking water, and the pure form plays a role as a catalyst in dehydration and dehydrogenation processes.
Average Particle Size
<80 µm
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count
3
Heat of Vaporization
335 KJ/mol
MeSH Entry Terms
Calcium Fluoride;Fluoride, Calcium
Monoisotopic Mass
77.9593972
Other Experimental
When F ions are pptd with Ca+2 in absence of CO3 ions, a gel is obtained; Mohs' hardness= 4; becomes luminous when heated;MP: 1350 °C; Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 3.2 /Fluorspar/
Refractive Index
Index of refraction: 1.4338
Topological Polar Surface Area
0 Ų