6892. Osmium Hexafluoride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 13768-38-2
F6Os; mol wt 304.22.
F 37.47%, Os 62.53%.
OsF6.

Description and references

Prepd by fluorination of osmium metal: Weinstock, Malm, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80, 4466 (1958); Hargreaves, Peacock, Proc. Chem. Soc. London 1959, 85. Previously thought to be osmium octafluoride: Ruff, Tschirch, Ber. 46, 929 (1913).

Properties

Pale yellow, volatile solid. Highly poisonous! Very corrosive to skin! mp 32.1°; bp 45.9°. Also reported: mp 33.4°; bp 47.5°, Cady, Hargreaves, J. Chem. Soc. 1961, 1563. Hydrolyzed on exposure to moisture; forms white corrosive fumes which soon turn bluish. May be stored in quartz ampuls.