It should be clear that some elements are far more interesting than others. Every chemist loves the “badass” elements. Because they blow up when you chuck them into water.
As bad as cesium is, there is one element that is even worse: fluorine. It is the most reactive of all the elements, and most chemists will never see it, let alone use it. The precautions you must take just to handle the stuff are “mildly alarming.” There is a publication, which, ironically (I don’t think they were kidding) is called “Working With HF [hydrofluoric acid] And Fluorine Safely.” You go first.
It reacts with virtually every element except Ar, He, and Ne.
** It is lethal at very low levels.**
Fire fighting The only practical way to extinguish a fluorine fire is to shut off the source of fluorine.
** Water and CO2 fire extinguishers only add fuel to fire.**
F2 is one of the most hazardous substances found in MSTD laboratories.
I know about Fluorine from my time offshore and in the refineries. Interesting stuff fluorine. It will kill you if you breath it. It will kill you if you get it on you, it will kill you if you try to wash it off and it is flammable.
It really is the devils perfume.
So here is an article about a new and “safer” electrolyte.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries. The safer electrolyte can work just as well in sub-zero temperatures as it does around room temperature, or 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lithium-ion batteries have a liquid electrolyte, which is important for carrying ions through the battery’s electrodes in order to power a vehicle or device and recharge. But the liquid electrolyte freezes when temperatures drop below freezing point, which can make it more difficult to recharge an EV in cold regions.
The scientists developed an electrolyte containing fluorine
Really? Safer? Wanna have parking
lot full of those batteries next to your house?
Cheers
Qazulight
