Tungsten oxytetrafluoride 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 . It is a colorless

diamagnetic Diamagnetism is the property of materials that are repelled by a magnetic field; an applied magnetic field creates an induced magnetic field in them in the opposite direction, causing a repulsive force. In contrast, paramagnetic and ferromagn ...

solid. The compound is one of many oxides of

tungsten Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...

. It is usually encountered as product of the partial

hydrolysis Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...

tungsten hexafluoride Tungsten(VI) fluoride, also known as tungsten hexafluoride, is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a toxic, corrosive, colorless gas, with a density of about (roughly 11 times heavier than air). It is the densest known gas under stand ...

Structure

As confirmed by

X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography is the experimental science of determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to Diffraction, diffract in specific directions. By measuring th ...

, crystallizes as a

tetramer A tetramer () (''tetra-'', "four" + '' -mer'', "parts") is an oligomer formed from four monomers or subunits. The associated property is called ''tetramery''. An example from inorganic chemistry is titanium methoxide with the empirical formula ...

. The oxides are terminal, and four of the fluorides are bridging. Its structure is similar to those for niobium pentafluoride and tantalum pentafluoride. In contrast, molybdenum oxytetrafluoride adopts a polymeric structure, although again the fluorides bridge and the oxides are terminal. In the gas state, this molecule is a

monomer A monomer ( ; ''mono-'', "one" + '' -mer'', "part") is a molecule that can react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or two- or three-dimensional network in a process called polymerization. Classification Chemis ...

. It can form complexes with

acetonitrile Acetonitrile, often abbreviated MeCN (methyl cyanide), is the chemical compound with the formula and structure . This colourless liquid is the simplest organic nitrile (hydrogen cyanide is a simpler nitrile, but the cyanide anion is not class ...

and other compounds.

Preparation

Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride can be synthesized by the reaction of

fluorine Fluorine is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol F and atomic number 9. It is the lightest halogen and exists at Standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions as pale yellow Diatomic molecule, diatomic gas. Fluorine is extre ...

and

tungsten trioxide Tungsten(VI) oxide, also known as tungsten trioxide is a chemical compound of oxygen and the transition metal tungsten, with formula WO3. The compound is also called tungstic anhydride, reflecting its relation to tungstic acid . It is a light ...

. It can also be obtained by treating tungsten with a mixture of

oxygen Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...

and

at high temperatures. Partial hydrolysis of

also produces . : The reaction of tungsten(VI) oxytetrachloride and

hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an Inorganic chemistry, inorganic compound with chemical formula . It is a very poisonous, colorless gas or liquid that dissolves in water to yield hydrofluoric acid. It is the principal industrial source of fluori ...

also produces . : can also prepared by the reaction of

lead(II) fluoride Lead(II) fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula Pb F2. It is a white solid. The compound is polymorphic, at ambient temperatures it exists in orthorhombic (PbCl2 type) form, while at high temperatures it is cubic ( Fluorite type). ...

and

at 700 °C. : Tungsten(VI) oxytetrafluoride hydrolyzes into

tungstic acid Tungstic acid refers to hydrated forms of tungsten trioxide, WO3. Both a monohydrate (WO3·H2O) and hemihydrate (WO3·1/2 H2O) are known. Molecular species akin to sulfuric acid, i.e. (HO)2WO2 are not observed. The solid-state structure of ...

. :

References

{{Fluorine compounds Metal halides Tungsten(VI) compounds Oxyfluorides