Polonium hexafluoride explained

Polonium hexafluoride is a possible chemical compound of polonium and fluorine and one of the seventeen known binary hexafluorides.

Synthesis

The synthesis of via the reaction

was attempted in 1945, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The boiling point was predicted to be about −40 °C.^[1]

was probably successfully synthesised via the same reaction in 1960 with the more stable isotope, where a volatile polonium fluoride was produced,^[2] but it was not fully characterized before it underwent radiolysis and decomposed to polonium tetrafluoride.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Summary of work to date on volatile neutron source, Monsanto Chemical Company, Unit 3 abstracts of progress reports, August 16–31, 1945; Abstract; PDF.
2. Seppelt . Konrad . 2015 . Molecular Hexafluorides . Chemical Reviews . 115 . 2 . 1296–1306 . 10.1021/cr5001783. 25418862 .
3. Weinstock, B., Chernick, C.L.: The preparation of a volatile polonium fluoride. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 4116–4117 (1960)
4. Book: Advances in Inorganic Chemistry and Radiochemistry. 9780080578538. January 1962. Academic Press .