- Fluorine perchlorate
Fluorine perchlorate is the rarely-encountered
chemical compound FClO4. One synthesis uses fluorine andperchloric acid , though the action of ClF5 on water is another method. It is extremely unstable and has a penetrating odor.Structure
Fluorine perchlorate should be analogous to perchloric acid, but with the replacement of the lone
hydrogen atom with an atom of fluorine. It contains an oxygen atom in a rareoxidation state of 0, due to theelectronegativity of oxygen, which is higher than that of chlorine but lower than that of fluorine.Reactivity/Safety
FClO4 has a very dangerous and unpredictable series of reactions associated with it, as a covalent perchlorate (chlorine in the +7 oxidation state) and a compound featuring a very sensitive O-F single bond. Small amounts of reducing agent, e.g.
organic compounds , can trigger explosive detonation. Products of these decomposition reactions could include oxygen halides,interhalogen compounds, and other hazardous substances. Accidental synthesis is possible if precursors are carelessly mixed. Like similar covalent fluorides and perchlorates, handle with extreme caution especially if safety data/MSDS is not fully available.External Links
* [http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2006/05/30/things_i_wont_work_with_frisky_perchlorates.php] (one chemist's experiences with perchlorates)
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