Fluorine Facts for Kids

The Periodic Table - Fluorine
  • Name: Fluorine
  • Symbol: F
  • Atomic Number: 9
  • Atomic Weight: 18.998403 u
  • Period: 2
  • Group: 17 (halogen group)

32 Fluorine Facts for Kids

  1. Fluorine is a chemical element on the periodic table.
  2. Fluorine is a highly toxic and corrosive gas.
  3. Fluorine in its gas state is a pale yellow color and in a liquid state it’s bright yellow.
  4. Fluorine was discovered in 1810 by French physicist and mathematician André-Marie Ampère.
  5. Fluorine was first isolated in 1886 by French chemist Henri Moissan.
  6. Fluorine was named by Cornish chemist and inventor Sir Humphry Davy. He came up with fluorine by combing the use of hydrofluoric acid and common suffix “ine” used for other halogen gases.
  7. The symbol for fluorine is F.
  8. The atomic number for fluorine is 9.
  9. The standard atomic weight of fluorine is 18.998403 u.
  10. Fluorine is a gas at room temperature.
  11. Fluorine is in the reactive nonmetal element category on the periodic table.
  12. Fluorine is a period 2 chemical element, which is the second row on the periodic table.
  13. Fluorine is a group 17 chemical element, which is the halogen group.
  14. Fluorine is in the p-block on the periodic table.
  15. The electron configuration for fluorine is [He] 2s22p5.
  16. The electrons per shell for fluorine are 2, 7.
  17. Fluorine has one stable isotope.
  18. Fluorine’s one stable isotope is 19F.
  19. The melting point for fluorine is -363.41 °F (-219.67 °C).
  20. The boiling point for fluorine is -306.60 °F (-188.11 °C).
  21. It’s estimated that fluorine is the 24th most abundant element in the universe.
  22. It’s estimated that fluorine is the 13th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.
  23. The composition of the Earth’s crust contains 0.0585% fluorine.
  24. Fluorine isn’t found in its pure form on Earth, it’s obtained from minerals that contain fluorine.
  25. The primary commercial sources for fluorine are fluorite, fluorapatite and cryolite.
  26. Fluorine is the most reactive chemical element on the periodic table of elements. In fact, prior to the first isolation of fluorine by French chemist Henri Moissan it was known to injure and kill chemists. Chemists injured or killed during these times were known as Fluorine Martyrs.
  27. Fluorine is the most electronegative chemical element on the periodic table of elements.
  28. Fluorine is the lightest element in the halogen group on the periodic table of elements.
  29. Hydrogen fluoride (HO) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) are the only two sources for creating fluorine compounds.
  30. Fluoride is a compound that contains fluorine.
  31. Sodium Fluoride (NaF), a compound that contains fluorine, is added to toothpaste and drinking water to help prevent dental cavities and tooth decay in humans.
  32. It’s estimated that 20% of all modern pharmaceuticals contain fluorine.

Additional Resources on Fluorine

  • Fluorine (F) – Learn more about the chemical element fluorine on the Los Alamos National Laboratory website.
  • Facts About Fluorine – Find more facts about the chemical element fluorine on the Live Science website.
  • Is Fluoridated Water Safe? – Learn if drinking fluoridated water is safe on the Havard Univeristy website.
  • Fluorine – Wikipedia – Discover more fluroine facts, information and uses on the Wikipedia website.

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