Boiling point -36.5 °C Appearance colourless gas | Molar mass 148.634 g/mol | |
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Germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4) is a chemical compound of germanium and fluorine. This colorless gas is formed by reacting germanium with fluorine or germanium dioxide (GeO2) with hydrofluoric acid (HF). Germanium difluoride can be synthesized by reacting germanium tetrafluoride with powdered germanium at 150–300 °C.
Contents
Synthesis
Germanium tetrafluoride can be prepared by reaction of germanium with fluorine or hydrogen fluoride:
Ge + 2 F2 → GeF4It is also formed during the thermal decomposition of a complex salt, Ba[GeF6]:
Ba(GeF6) → GeF4 + BaF2Properties
Germanium tetrafluoride is a noncombustible, strongly fuming gas with a garlic odor. It reacts with water to form hydrofluoric acid and germanium dioxide. Molecular decomposition occurs at temperatures above 1000 °C.
Uses
In combination with disilane, germanium tetrafluoride is used for in the synthesis of SiGe.