Disulfur_decafluoride

Disulfur decafluoride

Disulfur decafluoride

Chemical compound

Disulfur decafluoride is a chemical compound with the formula S2F10. It was discovered in 1934 by Denbigh and Whytlaw-Gray.[4] Each sulfur atom of the S2F10 molecule is octahedral, and surrounded by five fluorine atoms[5] and one sulfur atom. The two sulfur atoms are connected by a single bond. In the S2F10 molecule, the oxidation state of each sulfur atoms is +5, but their valency is 6 (they are hexavalent). S2F10 is highly toxic, with toxicity four times that of phosgene.

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...

It is a colorless liquid with a burnt match smell similar to sulfur dioxide.[1]

Production

Disulfur decafluoride is produced by photolysis of SF5Br:[6]

2 SF5Br → S2F10 + Br2

Disulfur decafluoride arises by the decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride. It is produced by the electrical decomposition of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)—an essentially inert insulator used in high voltage systems such as transmission lines, substations and switchgear. S2F10 is also made during the production of SF6.

Properties

The S-S bond dissociation energy is 305 ± 21 kJ/mol, about 80 kJ/mol stronger than the S-S bond in diphenyldisulfide.

At temperatures above 150 °C, S
2F
10 decomposes slowly (disproportionation) into SF
6 and SF
4:

S2F10 → SF6 + SF4

S
2F
10 reacts with N
2F
4 to give SF
5NF
2. It reacts with SO
2 to form SF
5OSO
2F in the presence of ultraviolet radiation.

S
2F
10 + N
2F
4 → 2 SF
5NF
2

In the presence of excess chlorine gas, S
2F
10 reacts to form sulfur chloride pentafluoride (SF
5Cl):

S
2F
10 + Cl
2 → 2 SF
5Cl

The analogous reaction with bromine is reversible and yields SF
5Br.[7] The reversibility of this reaction can be used to synthesize S
2F
10 from SF
5Br.[8]

Ammonia is oxidised by S
2F
10 into NSF
3.[9]

Toxicity

S
2F
10 was considered a potential chemical warfare pulmonary agent in World War II because it does not produce lacrimation or skin irritation, thus providing little warning of exposure. Disulfur decafluoride is a colorless gas or liquid with a SO2-like odor.[10] It is about four times as poisonous as phosgene. Its toxicity is thought to be caused by its disproportionation in the lungs into SF
6, which is inert, and SF
4, which reacts with moisture to form sulfurous acid and hydrofluoric acid.[11]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0579". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. [2]
    "Disulphur Decafluoride | 5714-22-7".
  3. [3]
    "Sulfur pentafluoride". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  4. [4]
    Denbigh, K. G.; Whytlaw-Gray, R. (1934). "The Preparation and Properties of Disulphur Decafluoride". Journal of the Chemical Society. 1934: 1346–1352. doi:10.1039/JR9340001346.
  5. [5]
    Harvey, R. B.; Bauer, S. H. (June 1953). "An Electron Diffraction Study of Disulfur Decafluoride". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 75 (12): 2840–2846. doi:10.1021/ja01108a015.
  6. [6]
    Winter, R.; Nixon, P.G.; Gard, G.L. (1998). "A new preparation of disulfur decafluoride". Journal of Fluorine Chemistry. 87 (1): 85–86. doi:10.1016/S0022-1139(97)00096-1.
  7. [7]
    Cohen, B.; MacDiarmid, A. G. (December 1965). "Chemical Properties of Disulfur Decafluoride". Inorganic Chemistry. 4 (12): 1782–1785. doi:10.1021/ic50034a025.
  8. [8]
    Winter, R.; Nixon, P.; Gard, G. (January 1998). "A new preparation of disulfur decafluoride". Journal of Fluorine Chemistry. 87 (1): 85–86. doi:10.1016/S0022-1139(97)00096-1.
  9. [9]
    Mitchell, S. (1996). Biological Interactions of Sulfur Compounds. CRC Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7484-0245-8.
  10. [10]
    "Sulfur Pentaflu". 1988 OSHA PEL Project. CDC NIOSH. 28 February 2020.
  11. [11]
    Johnston, H. (2003). A Bridge not Attacked: Chemical Warfare Civilian Research During World War II. World Scientific. pp. 33–36. ISBN 978-981-238-153-8.
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