Bismuth pentafluoride is an

inorganic compound An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds⁠that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''. Inorgan ...

with the formula BiF₅. It is a white solid that is highly reactive. The compound is of interest to researchers but not of particular value.

Structure

BiF₅ is polymeric and consists of linear chains of ''trans''-bridged corner sharing BiF₆ octahedra. This is the same structure as ''α''-UF₅.

Preparation

BiF₅ can be prepared by treating BiF₃ with F₂ at 500 °C. :BiF₃ + F₂ → BiF₅ In an alternative synthesis, ClF₃ is the fluorinating agent at 350 °C. :BiF₃ + ClF₃ → BiF₅ + ClF

Reactions

Bismuth pentafluoride is the most reactive of the pnictogen pentafluorides and is an extremely strong

fluorinating agent In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction which introduces one or more halogens into a chemical compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, drugs. ...

. It reacts vigorously with water to form

ozone Ozone () (or trioxygen) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , break ...

and

oxygen difluoride Oxygen difluoride is a chemical compound with the formula . As predicted by VSEPR theory, the molecule adopts a bent molecular geometry. It is a strong oxidizer and has attracted attention in rocketry for this reason. With a boiling point of &minus ...

, and with iodine or sulfur at room temperature. BiF₅ fluorinates paraffin oil (

hydrocarbons In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic; their odor is usually faint, and may b ...

) to

fluorocarbon Fluorocarbons are chemical compounds with carbon-fluorine bonds. Compounds that contain many C-F bonds often have distinctive properties, e.g., enhanced stability, volatility, and hydrophobicity. Several fluorocarbons and their derivatives are ...

s above 50 °C and oxidises UF₄ to UF₆ at 150 °C. At 180 °C, bismuth pentafluoride fluorinates Br₂ to BrF₃ and Cl₂ to ClF. BiF₅ also reacts with alkali metal fluorides, MF, to form hexafluorobismuthates, M iF₆ containing the hexafluorobismuthate anion, iF₆sup>−. Bismuth pentafluoride in hydrofluoric acid solvent also reacts with nickel fluoride to form the nickel salt of this anion, which can be incorporated into a complex with acetonitrile.

References

{{fluorine compounds Bismuth compounds Fluorides Metal halides Oxidizing agents Fluorinating agents Inorganic polymers Coordination polymers