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Magnesium fluoride

Chemical compound of magnesium and fluorine

Chemical compound of magnesium and fluorine

|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/CRCHandbookOfChemistryAndPhysics97thEdition2016/page/n789 Irtran-1 | NFPA-H = 3 | NFPA-F = 0 | NFPA-R = 0 | NFPA-S = Magnesium fluoride is an ionically bonded inorganic compound with the formula . The compound is a colorless to white crystalline salt that is transparent over a wide range of wavelengths, such that it is used in the optical windows of space telescopes. It occurs naturally as the rare mineral sellaite.

Production

Magnesium fluoride is prepared from magnesium oxide with sources of hydrogen fluoride such as ammonium bifluoride, by the breakdown of it: : Related metathesis reactions are also feasible: :

Structure

The compound crystallizes as tetragonal birefringent crystals. The structure of the magnesium fluoride is similar to that of rutile, featuring octahedral cations and 3-coordinate anions.

Magnesium coordinationFluorine coordination
[[File:Magnesium-fluoride-xtal-Mg-coord-3D-bs-17.png150px]][[File:Magnesium-fluoride-xtal-F-coord-3D-bs-17.png150px]]

In the gas phase, monomeric molecules adopt a linear molecular geometry.

Uses

Optics

Magnesium fluoride is transparent over an extremely wide range of wavelengths. Windows, lenses, and prisms made of this material can be used over the entire range of wavelengths from 0.120 μm (vacuum ultraviolet) to 8.0 μm (infrared). High-quality, synthetic magnesium fluoride is one of two materials (the other being lithium fluoride) that will transmit in the vacuum ultraviolet range at 121 nm (Lyman alpha).

Magnesium fluoride is tough and polishes well but is slightly birefringent and should therefore be cut with the optic axis perpendicular to the plane of the window or lens.

Safety

Chronic exposure to magnesium fluoride may affect the skeleton, kidneys, central nervous system, respiratory system, eyes and skin, and may cause or aggravate attacks of asthma.

References

References

  1. (May 21, 2013). "Magnesium Fluoride Material Safety Data Sheet".
  2. "Magnesium fluoride". ChemicalBook.
  3. (1984). "Structural Inorganic Chemistry". Oxford University Press.
  4. {{Greenwood&Earnshaw2nd
  5. (2000). "Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic".
  6. (2001). "X-ray diffraction and theoretical studies of the high-pressure structures and phase transitions in magnesium fluoride". [[Physical Review B.
  7. Due to its suitable [[refractive index]] of 1.37, magnesium fluoride is commonly applied in thin layers to the surfaces of optical elements as an inexpensive [[anti-reflective coating]].{{citation needed. (January 2021 Its [[Verdet constant]] is 0.00810{{nbsp[[arcmin]]⋅[[Gauss (unit)). G]]−1⋅cm−1 at 632.8 nm.J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans., 1996, 92, 2753 - 2757. {{doi. 10.1039/FT9969202753
  8. (August 2004). "Magnesium Fluoride Material Safety Data Sheet".
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fluorides magnesium-compounds alkaline-earth-metal-halides optical-materials
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