Carbon Tetrafluoride (CF4) Properties (25 Complete Facts)

Carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄), also known as tetrafluoromethane, is a derivative of methane compound. Let us study its important properties.

CF₄ is a colorless nonflammable gas which can be shipped as a liquid under pressure. It is a non-polar covalent compound with four C-F bonds. The carbon atom in this molecule is sp³ hybridized.

As we proceed through the article, we will explore different features of CF₄, such as structure, physical properties, chemical properties etc.

CF₄ IUPAC name

The IUAPC name of CF₄ is Tetrafluoromethane. Here, ‘tetra’ indicates four fluorine atoms, and the name is ending with ‘methane’ as four C-H bonds of CH₄ (chemical formula of methane) are replaced by C-F bonds.

CF₄ chemical formula

The chemical formula of carbon tetrafluoride is CF_4.

CF₄ CAS number

The CAS number of CF₄ is 75-73-0.

CF₄ ChemSpider ID

The ChemSpider ID of CF₄ is 6153.

CF₄ chemical classification

CF₄ is chemically classified as Haloalkane and perfluorinated counterpart to methane.

CF₄ molar mass

The molar mass of CF₄ is 88.003 g/mole, the calculation of which is

• Molar mass of CF₄ = Mass of C + 4*Mass of F
• = 12.011 + 4*18.998
• = 88.003 g/mole

CF₄ color

CF₄ is colorless.

CF₄ viscosity

The viscosity of CF₄ is 17.32 µPa.s

CF₄ molar density

The molar density of CF₄ is 0.04227128 mol/L since its density is 3.72 g/L at 15 ^oC.

CF₄ melting point

The melting point of CF₄ is -183.6 °C.

CF₄ boiling point

The boiling point of CF₄ is -127.8 °C.

CF₄ state at room temperature

CF₄ is a gas at room temperature.

CF₄ ionic/covalent bond

The four C-F bonds are neither ionic nor covalent but polar covalent bonds, as electronegativity difference between C and F is 1.5. 

CF₄ ionic/covalent radius

The ionic radius is impossible for CF₄ since it does not contain any ion. The covalent radius of carbon and fluorine atoms are 0.76 A^o and 0.57 A^o respectively.

CF₄ electron configurations

The electron configuration of an element is a way to show how electrons are placed in its atomic orbitals. Let us check this for CF₄ below.

The electron configuration of C  is 1s² 2s² 2p² and that of F is 1s² 2s² 2p⁵. Carbon has used its four valence electrons and F has used one 2p electron for C-F bond formation.

CF₄ oxidation state

C atom is in +4 Oxidation state and the F atom is in -1 oxidation state as C is less electronegative than F.

CF₄ acidity/alkaline

CF₄  is not acidic or alkaline in nature.

CF₄ odourless

CF₄ is odourless.

Is CF₄ paramagnetic

Paramagnetic substances tend to get weakly magnetized in the direction of the magnetizing field. Let us explore it in detail.

CF₄ is not paramagnetic since there is no unpaired electron in CF₄. Carbon uses all its four valence electrons and F uses its single unpaired electron in the formation of C-F bond resulting no unpaired electrons left.

CF₄ hydrates

CF₄ does not form any hydrates as it does not contain any H₂O molecule.

CF₄ crystal structure

CF₄ crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group and has similarity with SiF₄ structure.

CF₄ polarity and conductivity

• CF₄ does not show any polarity as it is a non-polar compound.
• CF₄ does not show any conductivity property as it does not allow electricity to pass through it and it does not produce any ions.

CF₄ reaction with acid

CF₄ does not react with acids as CF₄ is not basic in nature.

CF₄ reaction with base

CF₄ does not react with bases as CF₄ is not acidic in nature.

CF₄ reaction with oxide

CF₄ does not react with oxides as it is a very stable compound.

CF₄ reaction with metal

CF₄ does not react with metal as it is very inert in nature. It does not react even with molten sodium metal, which is very reactive.

Conclusion

Tetrafluoromethane is a potent greenhouse gas with a higher greenhouse warming potential than carbon dioxide. Some of the applications of CF₄ are as low-temperature refrigerants, for preparing organofluorine compounds, neutron detectors, etc.