Xenon octafluoride explained

Xenon octafluoride is a chemical compound of xenon and fluorine with the chemical formula . This is still a hypothetical compound.^{[1] [2]} is reported to be unstable even under pressures reaching 200 GPa.^[3]

History

The compound was initially predicted in 1933 by Linus Pauling—among other noble gas compounds but which, unlike other xenon fluorides, could probably never be synthesized.^{[4] [5]} This appears to be due to the steric hindrance of the fluorine atoms around the xenon atom. However, scientists continue to try to synthesize it.^[6]

Potential synthesis

The formation of xenon octafluoride has been calculated to be endothermic:^[7]

Notes and References

1. Frlec . Boris . Holloway . John H. . Slivnik . Jože . Šmalc . Andrej . Volavšek . Bogdan . Zemljič . Anton . An examination of the possibility of the existence of xenon octafluoride . . 1 August 1970 . 32 . 8 . 2521–2527 . 10.1016/0022-1902(70)80296-2 . 31 March 2023 . en . 0022-1902.
2. Book: Housecroft . Catherine E. . Sharpe . A. G. . Index. 2008 . 1097 . 31 March 2023 . . 978-0-13-175553-6 . en.
3. Luo . Dongbao . Lv . Jian . Peng . Feng . Wang . Yanchao . Yang . Guochun . Rahm . Martin . Ma . Yanming . A hypervalent and cubically coordinated molecular phase of IF 8 predicted at high pressure . . 2019 . 10 . 8 . 2543–2550 . 10.1039/c8sc04635b . 30881685 . 6385887 . 31 March 2023.
4. Weinstock . Bernard . Weaver . E. Eugene . Knop . Charles P. . The Xenon-Fluorine System . . December 1, 1966 . 66 . 5 . 2189 . 10.1021/ic50046a026 . 31 March 2023.
5. Pauling . Linus . The Formulas of Antimonic Acid and the Antimonates . . May 1933 . 55 . 5 . 1895–1900 . 10.1021/ja01332a016 . 31 March 2023 . en . 0002-7863.
6. Book: Cotton . F. Albert . Progress in Inorganic Chemistry, Volume 6 . 17 September 2009 . . 978-0-470-16657-4 . 249 . 31 March 2023 . en.
7. Book: Holleman . A. F. . Wiberg . Egon . Wiberg . Nils . Inorganic Chemistry . 2001 . . 978-0-12-352651-9 . 394 . 31 March 2023 . en.