Magnesium fluoride Chemical Properties

Melting point:

1263 °C (lit.)

Boiling point:

2227 °C/1 atm (lit.)

Density 

3.15 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

refractive index 

1.365

form 

random crystals

color 

White to off-white

Specific Gravity

3.15

Water Solubility 

87 mg/L (18 ºC)

Crystal Structure

Tetragonal, Rutile

crystal system

square

Merck 

14,5665

Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)

pKsp: 10.29

Space group

P42/mnm

Lattice constant

a/nm	b/nm	c/nm	α/o	β/o	γ/o	V/nm3
0.463	0.463	0.305	90	90	90	0.0652

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 2.5 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 250 mg/m3; TWA 2.5 mg/m3

InChI

InChI=1S/2FH.Mg/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2

InChIKey

ORUIBWPALBXDOA-UHFFFAOYSA-L

SMILES

[Mg](F)F

CAS DataBase Reference

7783-40-6(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Magnesium fluoride (7783-40-6)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36-37/39

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

OM3325000

Hazard Note 

Irritant

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

28261900

Toxicity

LD in guinea pigs (mg/kg): 1000 orally, 3000 s.c. (Waldbott)

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:Magnesium fluoride
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Magnesium fluoride Usage And Synthesis

Description

Magnesium fluoride is a by-product of the manufacture of metallic beryllium and uranium. It is a fine white crystalline powder with low chemical reactivity.

Magnesium fluoride is used as flux in magnesium metallurgy and in the ceramics industry. Magnesium fluoride may be used for the extraction of aluminum from arc-furnace alloys with Fe, Si, Ti, and C. Optical windows of highly purified magnesium fluoride which transmit light from the vacuum ultraviolet (140 nm) into the infrared (7) are recommended for use as ultraviolet optical components for the use in space exploration. Magnesium fluoride is can be also used as an antireflection coating material having a good antireflection effect and a low refractive index.

Uses

In Mg metallurgy and in the ceramics industry, Magnesium fluoride is used as a flux. Single crystals of alkaline-earth fluorides, such as Magnesium fluoride, are suitable for optical applications because of their large domain of transparency from the ultraviolet to the middle infrared region. Infrared transparent windows may be prepared by hot-pressing Magnesium fluoride powder.
Ternary intercalation compounds of graphite with fluorine and Magnesium fluoride have been prepared; these compounds have high electrical conductivity and would therefore have an important potential as cathodes or new electroconductive materials. Finally, the eutectic NaF–MgF2 has been proposed in advanced latent-heat energy storage for solar power systems.

Preparation

Magnesium fluoride is prepared by treating a magnesium salt solution with hydrofluoric acid or sodium fluoride:
MgSO4 + 2HF → MgF2 + 2H+ + SO42–
or by adding hydrofluoric acid to magnesium carbonate:
MgCO3 + 2HF → MgF2 + CO2 + H2O

References

[1] John R. Papcun, Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic, Magnesium, Kirk- Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2000
[2] H. Tanaka, M. Kobayashi, T. Sakakibara, Method of producing magnesium fluoride coating, antireflection coating, and optical element, Patent, 2013

Description

Magnesium fluoride (MgF2) is a white crystalline salt. It is used in the electrolysis of aluminum ore to produce metallic aluminum and also as a reflective coating on various types of optical components. It is a tetragonal, birefringent crystal with the TiO2 type of structure.

Chemical Properties

white to light beige powder

Chemical Properties

Magnesium Fluoride is a fine white crystalline powder with low chemical reactivity. This relative inertness makes possible some of its uses, eg, stable permanent films to alter light transmission properties of optical and electronic materials.

Uses

Suitable for vacuum deposition. Magnesium fluoride occurs in nature as the mineral, sellaite. It is used in
glass and ceramics. Single crystals are used for polarizing prisms and lenses.

Uses

In the ceramics and glass industry.Magnesium Fluoride is a durable crystal with low absorption, suitable for high-powered laser, space, and other UV applications. MgF2 is also naturally birefringent, making it an ideal material for use where this property can be exploited, such as retardation plates and polarizing elements, particularly in the wavelength range from 0.13-0.30 µm.

Uses

Magnesium fluoride (MgF2) is used to polarize corrective lenses of eyeglasses to reduce the glare of sunlight by selecting the orientation of the light waves passing through the lenses. MgF2 is also used to polarize windows, sunglasses, and similar optical items.

Preparation

Magnesium fluoride is a colorless salt with the rutile structure. It is formed by reaction of magnesium oxide and HF or magnesium carbonate and NH4F·HF. It is also a by product from the manufacture of elements such as beryllium by reduction of the corresponding fluoride by magnesium metal.

Hazard

Strong irritant. TLV: 2.5 mg(F)/m3.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of F-. See also MAGNESIUM and FLUORIDES.

Magnesium fluoride(7783-40-6)Related Product Information

• Magnesium oxide
• Magnesium acetate
• FLUORIDE STANDARD
• Magnesium sulfate
• Magnesium stearate
• Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate
• Ammonium hydroxide
• Barium iodide
• Fluorinated carbon
• Potassium fluoride dihydrate
• Ammonium fluoride
• Lead fluoride
• Caesium fluoride
• Calcium fluoride
• Lithium fluoride
• Barium fluoride
• ALUMINUM FLUORIDE TRIHYDRATE
• Strontium fluoride