Calcium Fluoride

CaF₂

IUPAC: Calcium fluoride

CAS: 7789-75-5

Overview

Calcium fluoride is found naturally as the mineral fluorite, which displays beautiful fluorescence under UV light — the phenomenon of fluorescence was named after this mineral. It is the primary source of fluorine for the chemical industry.

Composition

Element Symbol Atoms Atomic Mass
Fluorine F 2 18.9980
Calcium Ca 1 40.0780

Elemental Composition

F
Fluorine ×2
48.7%
Ca
Calcium ×1
51.3%

Uses

  • • Source of fluorine and HF
  • • Metallurgical flux (steelmaking)
  • • Optical lenses (UV and IR optics)
  • • Ceramic and glass additive

Fun Facts

  • ✦ The word 'fluorescence' was coined in 1852 to describe the glow of fluorite under UV light

Safety

  • ⚠ Low toxicity in crystalline form
  • ⚠ HF exposure risk during processing

Structure

SMILES

[F-].[F-].[Ca+2]

Properties

Type
salt
State
solid
Molar Mass
78.08 g/mol
Density
3.1800 g/cm³
Melting Point
1418.0 °C
Boiling Point
2533.0 °C
Solubility
0.016 g/L at 18°C

Molecular Descriptors

Exact Mass
77.9594
TPSA
0.0 Ų
H-Bond Donors
0
H-Bond Acceptors
2
Rotatable Bonds
0
Heavy Atoms
3
Complexity
0.0

Also Known As

Fluorite Fluorspar

Related Compounds

Ammonium Bicarbonate

NH₄HCO₃

Ammonium Chloride

NH₄Cl

Ammonium Sulfate

(NH₄)₂SO₄

Barium Carbonate

BaCO₃

Barium Chloride

BaCl₂

Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

Cadmium Sulfide

CdS

Calcium Acetate

Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂

Calcium Carbonate

CaCO₃

Calcium Citrate

Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Calcium Fluoride?
Calcium Fluoride (CaF₂) is a salt compound with the IUPAC name Calcium fluoride.
What is the molecular weight of Calcium Fluoride?
Calcium Fluoride has a molar mass of 78.075 g/mol.
What state is Calcium Fluoride at room temperature?
Calcium Fluoride is a solid at room temperature.
Is Calcium Fluoride organic or inorganic?
Calcium Fluoride is classified as an inorganic compound.
What elements make up Calcium Fluoride?
Calcium Fluoride (CaF₂) is composed of Fluorine (F), Calcium (Ca).