General Description
Odorless gray powder or granules. Sinks in water.
Reactivity Profile
CALCIUM FLUORIDE has weak oxidizing or reducing powers. Redox reactions can however still occur. The majority of compounds in this class are slightly soluble or insoluble in water. If soluble in water, then the solutions are usually neither strongly acidic nor strongly basic. These compounds are not water-reactive.
Health Hazard
Little acute toxicity
Potential Exposure
Calcium fluoride is used for production of hydrofluoric acid; as a flux in steel manufacture; in
smelting; electric arc welding, making glass and ceramics;
and to fluoridate drinking water.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. A doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering aluminum hydroxide gel, if conscious
Shipping
Calcium fluoride is not specifically covered by
DOT in its Performance-Oriented Packaging Standards.
Incompatibilities
Dust may form explosive mixture with
air. Reacts with water, moist air, and steam, releasing flammable hydrogen gas; and may self-ignite in air. A strong
reducing agent; incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates,
nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine,
bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases,
strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Incompatible with metal
halogenates, silver fluoride, and tetrahydrofuran
Description
Calcium fluoride is colorless crystalline orwhite, powdery substance. Molecular weight=78.08;Specific gravity (H2O:1)=3.18 at 20℃; Boilingpoint=2495℃; Freezing/Melting point=1423℃. HazardIdentification (based on NFPA-704 M Rating System):Health 2, Flammability 0, Reactivity 0. Practically insolublein water.
Physical properties
White cubic crystal or powder; refractive index 1.434; density 3.18 g/cm3; hardness 4 Mohs; melts at 1,418°C; vaporizes at 2,533°C; insoluble in water (16 mg/L at 20°C); Ksp 3.9x10-11; slightly soluble in dilute mineral acid; soluble in concentrated acids (with reaction).
Production Methods
The commercial product is obtained from naturally occurring mineral fluorspar, which is purified and powdered. Also, it may be precipitated by mixing a solution of sodium fluoride with a soluble calcium salt:
Ca(NO3)2 + 2NaF → CaF2 + NaNO3
Alternatively, it may be obtained by treating calcium carbonate with hydrofluoric acid：CaCO3 + 2HF → CaF2 + CO2 + H2O.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Industrial uses
Also called fluorite, fluorspar is a crystalline or massive granular mineral of the composition CaF2, used as a flux in the making of steel, for making hydrofluoric acid, in opalescent glass, in ceramic enamels, for snaking artificial cryolite, as a binder for vitreous abrasive wheels,and in the production of white cement. It is a better flux for steel than limestone, making a fluid slag, and freeing the iron of sulfur and phosphorus.
Acid spar is a grade used in making hydrofluoric acid. It is also used for making refrigerants, plastics, and chemicals, and for aluminum reduction. Optical fluorspar is the highest grade but is not common. Fluoride crystals for optical lenses are grown artificially from acid-grade fluorspar. Pure calcium fluoride, Ca2F6, is a colorless crystalline powder used for etching glass, in enamels, and for reducing friction in machine bearings. It is also used for ceramic parts resistant to hydrofluoric acid and most other acids. Calcium fluorite has silicon in the molecule and is a crystalline powder used for enamels. The clear rhombic fluoride crystals used for transforming electric energy into light are lead fluoride, PbF2.
storage
Color Code—Green: General storage may be used.Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilatedarea away from acids and chemically active metals (such aspotassium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc) because corrosivehydrogen fluoride will be produced.
