Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid . Also named hydrofluoric acid , it is a very strong inorganic acid, it is constituted by the aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride, the most common form in which we can find it in nature is HF or (HF) ₆ .

Summary

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• 1 Physical and chemical properties
• 2 Obtaining
• 3 Applications
• 4 Risks
  • 1 Symptoms by ingestion
  • 2 Symptoms by inhalation
  • 3 Symptoms from contact
• 5 Handling and storage
  • 1 Management
  • 2 Storage
• 6 Sources

Physical and chemical properties

• Colorless liquid
• Toxic
• Highly corrosive.
• Solubility in Water: 70 g / 100 ml (20 ° C, 293 K)
• Molecular mass: 20.01 g / mol.
• Melting point: –83.15 ° C
• Boiling point: 19.85 ° C

Obtaining

Hydrofluoric acid is obtained by reacting calcium fluoride (CaF ₂ ) with sulfuric acid .

H ₂ SO ₄ + CaF ₂ -> CaSO4 + 2HF

Applications

• In obtaining a lot of pharmaceutical compounds and polymers.
• It is used for the manufacture of organic and inorganic fluorinated compounds.
• It is the basis for the production of artificial fluoroborates, cryolite (Na ₃ AlF ₆ ) that is used in the production of aluminum , fluorides , and fluorinated acids .
• It is used in oil refining. As a catalyst for high octane gasoline production in the operation known as gasoline alkylation.
• It is widely used to dull glass.
• As a great aluminum and stainless steel cleaner and polish,
• In the treatment of titanium.
• Quartz purification
• In metal finishing.
• In the synthesis of UF6, it is used to separate isotopes of uranium.
• In the nuclear industry it is used for the manufacture and reprocessing of fuel elements.
• Development of screensfor computers .
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Printsto the water deposit glass
• Household dust removers

Risks

It is an irritating, corrosive and toxic substance

Ingestion symptoms

• Inability to breathe as the throat becomes inflamed and fever closes.
• Strong abdominal pain.
• Strong pain in the mouth.
• Strong sore throat.
• Threw up.

Inhalation symptoms

• Bluish-colored lips and nails
• Shaking chills
• Suffocation
• Cough
• Fever
• Chest tightness

Symptoms from contact

• Very painful skin burn

Handling and storage

Driving

• Carry out industrial operations on the equipment and the closed piping circuits, but with suction cups.
• Perform small-scale manipulations under vacuum hood.
• Operate in a well-ventilated place.
• Use only equipment and materials that are compatible with hydrogen fluoride.
• Stay away from reactive products (see section 10).
• Transfer preferably with pumps or gravity.

Storage

• Store in a tightly closed container.
• Store in a cool, airy place.
• Keep the product away from heat sources.
• Keep away from reactiveproducts .
• Use a barrier around the storage and transfer facility containers.