Talk:Chlorine pentafluoride

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How was it synthesized? Probably Cl2 + 5 F2. Thermal reaction or photochemical?

Give a couple of its reactions, if you can find any. It probably hydrolyzes.

You could mention its 19F NMR spectrum, which should be interesting indeed. Possibly indicating a fluxional structure.

[edit] Image Request

In the Requested Pictures page Chlorine Pentafluoride is listed in need of a diagram showing the molecular structure. I can easily make such a diagram, even 3d, possibly animated. I'd need some more information though. In particular, is the distance between the Chlorine atom and each Fluorine atom the same? Would it be possible to provide the length of one of the segments of the pyramid, to give a size to the whole structure, i.e. in amstrong or nanometers? Thank you.
manu3d 14:25, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

• The current picture (Sept 22) is deceptively symmetrical. The fluorine atoms are situated at the corners of a square pyramid, with the Cl is the middle of the square base.
  • Thanks for the clarification. Any idea of the dimensions of the structure? I.e. height of the pyramid and lenght of its side? It'd be interesting to put a scale to it, and size the atoms appropriately for it. I can easily find atomic radiuses, but I can't quite find the pyramid dimension.
    manu3d 10:51, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
    P.S. please use the four tildes (~~~~) to put your signature and time! =)
    • The fluorine atoms should all be about equally far from the chlorine atom (so the sides are times the height). Also, VSEPR theory says the lone electron pair should push the fluorine atoms away from itself, so they're all on one side of a plane containing the chlorine atom. Not sure how pronounced that effect is, though. —Keenan Pepper 23:40, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

• I've just uploaded a couple of versions of a 3d rendering of the molecule. The first one is probably closer in terms of actual relative sizes, but the second one is prettier and clearer. Which one should we use?
  
  manu3d 01:23, 30 September 2006 (UTC) P.S. of course I can change anything if necessary.
  • Very nice. Chemists are opinionated, so here goes: My recommendation would be to set this thing up so that the spinning stops after a few twirls otherwise it distracts. Also, for the sake of "chemical aesthetics", remove the atom labels. Readers should be able to deduce which atoms are which.--Smokefoot 01:32, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
    • You didn't say which one you like the best!!! =) manu3d 10:40, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

• Ok, I've uploaded a new version and changed the image in the article. The new version is 50% smaller and should stop after three rotations, as requested (I can't test that yet because of some cache refresh issue). I've decided for the second image, purely for artistic reasons, but I suspect the first one, with the compenetrating spheres is probably more physically correct. I've also left the labels on each atoms, contrary to the received feedback. I would agree that most readers would be able to realise what is what, but beside the issue that they are a visually nice detail (imho), some of the youngest or least advantaged readers might find the labels beneficial. Now, are there other molecules that would benefit from this kind of visualization? manu3d 10:16, 29 October 2006 (UTC)