monofluoride

Monofluoride is not a single chemical substance but a descriptive term used in chemistry to denote a species that contains exactly one fluorine atom per formula unit. The term applies in both organic and inorganic contexts, signaling either a molecule with a single fluorine substituent or a fluoride ligand coordinated to another element. The simplest example is hydrogen fluoride (HF), a diatomic molecule that contains one fluorine atom. Many organic molecules with one fluorine, such as fluoromethane (CH3F) or benzyl fluoride (C6H5CH2F), are also described as monofluorides in the sense that they possess a single fluorine atom.

In inorganic and coordination chemistry, monofluoride also refers to a fluoride ligand bound to a metal center. In this usage, fluorine acts as a monodentate donor (fluorido) within a larger complex, illustrating how fluorine can exist as a single F‑ ligand in various structures. Metal monofluoride species can be studied in gas-phase or solid-state contexts, often as part of broader investigations into metal–fluorine bonding and reactivity.

The properties of monofluorides vary widely with the rest of the molecule or complex. Introducing one fluorine atom can markedly alter reactivity, acidity, polarity, and metabolic stability in organic compounds, as well as bond strengths and electronic structure in inorganic systems. Fluorination, including the formation of monofluorides, is widely used in chemical synthesis to tune properties for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science.

Safety considerations are important, as many fluorine-containing compounds are reactive and hazardous. Hydrogen fluoride, in particular, is highly corrosive and toxic and requires appropriate handling and protective measures.