Hexafluorophosphazene is an inorganic compound with the formula . It takes the form of a white powder or lumps. It is sensitive to moisture and heat.
The molecule has a cyclic, unsaturated backbone consisting of alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms, and can be viewed as a trimer of the hypothetical compound (phosphazyl difluoride). Its classification as a phosphazene highlights its relationship to benzene. Hexafluorophosphazene has a hexagonal ring with six equivalent P–N bonds. Each phosphorus atom is additionally bonded to two fluorine atoms.[1]
The molecule possesses D3h symmetry, and each phosphorus center is tetrahedral.
The ring in hexachlorophosphazene deviates from planarity and is slightly ruffled (see chair conformation). By contrast, the ring in hexafluorophosphazene is completely planar.