Platinum hexafluoride

It is a dark-red volatile solid that forms a red gas.

PtF6 is a strong fluorinating agent and one of the strongest oxidants, capable of oxidising xenon and O2.

The required PtF5 can be obtained by fluorinating PtCl2: Platinum hexafluoride can gain an electron to form the hexafluoroplatinate anion, PtF−6.

The discovery of this reaction in 1962 proved that noble gases form chemical compounds.

Previous to the experiment with xenon, PtF6 had been shown to react with oxygen to form [O2]+[PtF6]−, dioxygenyl hexafluoroplatinate.

NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gas Flammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. water Instability 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g. nitroglycerin Special hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate