Antimony trifluoride

In solid SbF3, the Sb centres have octahedral molecular geometry and are linked by bridging fluoride ligands.

[3] SbF3 is prepared by treating antimony trioxide with hydrogen fluoride:[4] The compound is a mild Lewis acid, hydrolyzing slowly in water.

[5] This application was reported by the Belgian chemist Frédéric Jean Edmond Swarts in 1892,[6] who demonstrated its usefulness for converting chloride compounds to fluorides.

[7] The Swarts reaction is generally applied to the synthesis of organofluorine compounds, but experiments have been performed using silanes.

Other fluorine-containing Lewis acids serve as fluorinating agents in conjunction with hydrogen fluoride.

Structural formula
Structural formula
space-filling model
space-filling model
Unit cell
Unit cell
Unit cell of antimony trifluoride. The distorted-octahedral coordination of the fluorine relative to the antimony is visualized.
Unit cell of antimony trifluoride. The distorted-octahedral coordination of the fluorine relative to the antimony is visualized.
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gas Flammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. water Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no code