Arsenic pentafluoride is a chemical compound of arsenic and fluorine. The oxidation state of arsenic is +5.

Synthesis

Arsenic pentafluoride can be prepared by direct combination of arsenic and fluorine^[1]:

2As + 5F₂ 2AsF₅

It can also be prepared by the reaction of arsenic trifluoride and fluorine:

AsF₃ + F₂ AsF₅

Properties

Arsenic pentafluoride is a colourless gas and has a trigonal bipyramidal structure.^[1] In the solid state the axial As-F bond lengths are 171.9 pm and the equatorial 166.8 pm.^[1]

Reactions

Arsenic pentafluoride forms halide complexes and is a powerful acceptor as shown by the reaction with sulfur tetrafluoride forming an ionic complex.^[2]

AsF₅ + SF₄ SF₃⁺ + AsF₆

See also

• List of highly toxic gases

References

1. ↑ ^{a b c}
2. ↑ An investigation of the structures of the adducts of SF₄ with BF₃, PF₅, AsF₅, and SbF₅ in the solid state and in solution in HF, M. Azeem, M. Brownstein, and R. J. Gillespie Can. J. Chem. 47(22): 4159 4167 (1969),