PuF4

PuF4 is the fluoride salt of plutonium in the +4 oxidation state. It consists of plutonium ions coordinated by fluoride ligands and exists as a crystalline solid. As a plutonium compound, it is primarily of interest in actinide chemistry and nuclear materials research.

Preparation of PuF4 generally involves fluorination of plutonium oxides or other plutonium fluoride species using fluorinating agents such as fluorine gas or hydrogen fluoride at elevated temperature. The exact method depends on the desired form and purity, and handling requires appropriate radiological controls.

In terms of properties, PuF4 forms a crystalline solid that is relatively stable under dry conditions but readily hydrolyzes in the presence of moisture, forming oxyfluorides such as PuOF2 and PuO2F2. It is often described as poorly soluble in water. In solid-state chemistry, PuF4 exhibits polymeric networks with plutonium centers coordinated by fluoride.

Chemically, PuF4 can act as a precursor to higher plutonium fluorides; under suitable fluorinating conditions it can be converted to species such as PuF6. It also serves as a model system for studying Pu(IV) fluoride coordination chemistry and is used in certain nuclear materials processing contexts as an intermediate or starting material for other fluorides.

Safety and regulatory note: PuF4 contains plutonium and is highly radioactive and chemically hazardous. Handling is restricted to licensed facilities with proper shielding, containment, and waste management. Contact with moisture can generate corrosive hydrogen fluoride and related hazards; strict regulatory controls govern its use and disposal.

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