Adjacent Words

fluorine definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a nonmetallic univalent element belonging to the halogens; usually a yellow irritating toxic flammable gas; a powerful oxidizing agent; recovered from fluorite or cryolite or fluorapatite [syn: fluorine, F, atomic number 9]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: French, from New Latin fluor Date: 1813 a nonmetallic halogen element that is isolated as a pale yellowish flammable irritating toxic diatomic gas — see element table

Dictionary of the Elements

fluorine
Symbol: F
Atomic number: 9
Atomic weight: 18.9984
A poisonous pale yellow gaseous element belonging to group 17 of the periodic table (The halogens). It is the most chemically reactive and electronegative element. It is highly dangerous, causing severe chemical burns on contact with flesh. Fluorine was identified by Scheele in 1771 and first isolated by Moissan in 1886.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a poisonous pale-yellow gaseous element of the halogen group occurring naturally in fluorite and cryolite, and the most reactive of all elements. Usage: Symb.: F. Etymology: F (as FLUORSPAR)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fluorine Flu"or*ine (? or ?; 104), n. [NL. fluorina: cf. G. fluorin, F. fluorine. So called from its occurrence in the mineral fluorite.] (Chem.) A non-metallic, gaseous element, strongly acid or negative, or associated with chlorine, bromine, and iodine, in the halogen group of which it is the first member. It always occurs combined, is very active chemically, and possesses such an avidity for most elements, and silicon especially, that it can neither be prepared nor kept in glass vessels. If set free it immediately attacks the containing material, so that it was not isolated until 1886. It is a pungent, corrosive, colorless gas. Symbol F. Atomic weight 19. Note: Fluorine unites with hydrogen to form hydrofluoric acid, which is the agent employed in etching glass. It occurs naturally, principally combined as calcium fluoride in fluorite, and as a double fluoride of aluminium and sodium in cryolite.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Fluorine is a pale yellow, poisonous gas. It is used in the production of uranium and other chemicals.