Chlorine pentafluoride
Molecular formula	ClF5
Molar mass	130.45 g mol-1
CAS number	*
Melting point	-103 °C
Boiling point	-13.1 °C
Thermodynamic data
Standard enthalpy of formation ΔfH°gas	-238.49 kJ mol-1
Standard molar entropy S°gas	310.73 J K-1 mol-1
Heat capacity Cp	89.16 J K-1 mol-1
Chemical infobox

Chlorine pentafluoride has formula ClF₅. Its square pyramidal structure with C_4v symmetry was confirmed by its high resolution ¹⁹F NMR spectrum.

Preparation

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Initially, a common method for synthesis of this hypervalent molecule was to react ClF₃ with F₂ at high temperatures and high pressures. Also, reacting metal fluorides,MClF₄ (i.e. KClF₄, RbClF₄, CsClF₄) with F₂ produced ClF₅ and the corresponding MF. In 1981, researchers found that NiF₂ is an excellent catalyst for genereating ClF₅.

Reactions

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ClF₅ reacts readily with water to produce FClO₄ and HF. It also a strong fluorinating agent. While unreactive with first row non-metals, it reacts readily with second and third row nonmetals at room temperature.

See also

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• hypervalent molecule

External links

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• National Pollutant Inventory - Flouride and compounds fact sheet
• WebBook page for ClF5

References

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Fluorides | Chlorine compounds | Interhalogen compounds