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Naming History
The name for Fluorine comes from the Latin word fluere meaning to flow because of the tendency of the fluorine based mineal calcium fluoride (CaF2) to melt in a flame.
Discovery
The first use of a Fluorine containing compound occured in 1529 by Georgius Agricolas who used fluorspar (calcium fluoride) as a flux in the smelting of metals. In 1670 a second use for fluorspar was discovered when Heinrick Schwandhard dissolved it in acid and used it to etch glass. It wasn't until 1812 when Andre Ampere identified these compounds contained an undiscovered element and was the first to use the name Fluorine do to their similrity to Chlorine compounds. In 1886 Fluorine was finally isolated by the French chemist Henri Moissan by using electrolysis of a potassium bifluoride (KHF2) solution in anhydroud hydrofluoric acid (HF). Moissan was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1906 for this discovery.
Characteristics
Fluorine is the first Halogen in the periodic table and is an element that is difficult to control, but is extemely useful in many areas including drugs and plastics.
Fluorine is present in small portions throughout the human body in the form of Fluoride (F-).
There is around 0.5 mg of Fluoride per litre of blood.
Human bones contain 2,000 - 12,000 parts per million (ppm) Fluoride depending on there location in the body.
In total there are around 3-6 g of Fluoride found in the human body.
Too much Fluoride absorbed by plants (through the atmosphere or soil) can retard growth and reduced crop yields.
The Earths crust contains around 950 ppm Fluroine making it the 13th most abundant element.
Seawater contains around 1.3 ppm of fluoride.
Naturally Occurring Minerals
Fluorine is a major component in the minearl fluorite (aka fluorspar). Around 6 million tonnes of fluorite is mind every year with China being the chief producer. Fluroite is commonly used (35% of its industrial use) in the smelting and refining of metals especially when making steel and aluminum products.
Where can I find this element @ home
The average person ingest between 0.3 and 3 mg of Fluoride a day from sources such as fluorinated tap water, chicken, pork, eggs and potatoes.
A cup of strong tea can contain up to 0.4 mg of Fluoride in it.
Foods from seawater sources are particularly high in Fluoride such as mackerel, sardines, salmon and seasalt.
Many toothpastes contain Fluorides that are able to strengthen your teeth and help to resist acid produced during digestion.
There are a number of organo-fluorine drugs (20% of pharmacuticals) that are used to fight minor infections.
30% of agrochemical compounds are organo-fluorine compounds.