XeF

XeF is the chemical formula that can refer to xenon monofluoride, a diatomic molecule composed of xenon and fluorine with a single Xe–F bond. In ordinary conditions it has not been isolated as a stable, persistent species; instead, XeF is known as a transient radical that can be observed in the gas phase or trapped in inert matrices at very low temperatures. Its existence is supported by spectroscopic evidence and carefully controlled photolysis experiments, and it is highly reactive with a short lifetime.

In practice, the chemistry of xenon with fluorine is dominated by the well-characterized, isolable xenon fluorides XeF2, XeF4, and XeF6. XeF2 is a volatile, linear molecule that serves as a convenient source of electrophilic fluorine in many reactions. XeF4 is a square-planar compound that is thermally stable and acts as a weaker oxidant in many contexts. XeF6 is a more complex species that forms under certain conditions and exists as a mixture of isomers, with rich and varied fluorination chemistry.

Preparation and handling of xenon fluorine species typically occur under controlled laboratory conditions, often at low temperatures or by photochemical methods starting from xenon-containing precursors and fluorinating reagents. These species are strong fluorinating agents and oxidizers; they react with water, alcohols, and hydrocarbons to yield HF and various xenon-containing products.

See also: Xenon difluoride (XeF2), Xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4), Xenon hexafluoride (XeF6).