Arsenic Pentafluoride

Arsenic pentafluoride is a chemical compound with the formula AsF5. It is a colorless, highly toxic and corrosive liquid that reacts violently with water and can cause severe burns upon contact with skin or eyes.

Arsenic pentafluoride has a trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry, with the arsenic atom at the center and five fluorine atoms positioned around it. The two axial fluorine atoms are located perpendicular to the plane of the three equatorial fluorine atoms.

This compound is primarily used as a fluorinating agent in organic synthesis, as well as in the production of other fluorine-containing compounds. It is also used in the purification of uranium and in the semiconductor industry for etching silicon dioxide.

Safety precautions should be taken when handling arsenic pentafluoride due to its extreme toxicity and reactivity. This includes wearing protective clothing, gloves, and goggles, as well as working in a fume hood to prevent inhalation of its hazardous vapors.