Fluorine and Fluorine Molecule

**Symbol:** F **Atomic number:** 9 **International name:** Fluorine **General formula:** F₂ **Relative atomic weight:** 18.998 **Description:** Fluorine is a highly reactive, toxic gas with a greenish-yellow color and an irritating odor. Like other halogens, fluorine forms diatomic molecules F₂ with a single bond between the atoms. It has the highest electronegativity of all elements, making it a very strong oxidizing agent. Fluorine typically exists in compounds as the fluoride anion (F⁻), which is characteristic of non-metallic compounds. **Applications:** Fluorine is used as a raw material in the chemical industry (e.g., Teflon plastics production). It is also a key ingredient in the production of toothpaste. **Occurrence:** On Earth, fluorine is only found in the form of fluoride (F⁻). The most important fluorine-containing minerals include fluorite (CaF₂), cryolite (Na₃AlF₆) and fluorapatite (Ca₅(PO₄)₃F). Fluorine is a biogenic trace element.