Hydrofluoric Acid

About Hydrofluoric Acid

Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, is the aqueous solution of Hydrogen Fluoride. Fluorine is the only halogen that does not form a strong acid, due in part to the electronegativity and small size of the fluorine atom which results in stronger bond formation between fluorine and hydrogen.

Despite this weak dissociation in dilute solutions, Hydrofluoric Acid is highly corrosive and poisonous. Hydrofluoric Acid is essential to the synthesis of many fluorine-containing compounds, including a multitude of pharmaceuticals like Fluoxetine (brand name Prozac), and fluorinated polymers like Polytetrafluoroethylene (brand name Teflon). It is also used in glass etching, dissolving rock samples prior to analysis, as a cleaning agent, and in oil refining.

Common Uses and Applications

• Synthesis of fluorine-containing compounds (e.g. Teflon, Prozac, freon)
• Glass etching
• Cleaning agent
• Dissolving rock samples for analysis
• Oil refining
• Laboratory reagent

Industries that use Hydrofluoric Acid

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Oil Industry
• Research Laboratories