The Discovery Of Fluorine :: essays research papers

The isolation of fluorine had challenged chemist for many years, takingthe lives of at least devil scientists in the bear on. Fluorine receives itsname from the Latin, fluo, meaning flow. The first real attempt to freefluorine, was done by a chemist by the name of Humphyry Davy, amid the yearsof (1811-1813). He first tried to liberate the element by using the chemical rules, but this failed. He then went on to try and electrolysis process usingbatteries. The problem with this was that the electrolytes used either producedHydrogen and Oxygen or fluoric acid in vapor form, making it difficult to study.He then went on to fashion a electrochemical cell from horn silver becausethe hydrogen fluoride attacked glass. But this also failed , his hydrogenfluoride contained water. Davy gave up.Next Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac andLouis-Jacques Thenard were able to create a still hydrogen fluoride free ofwater. But it doesnt conducted the electricity needed for electrolysis. Thusended their weak attempts to create fluorine.In 1834, Faraday (God of Electrolysis),used the electrolysis of lead fluoride in platinum vessels to commit fluoridevapors, HORAA But no after rigorous examination he too failed. Then alongcame a student of Faraday, Henri Moissan, he used electrolysis with hydrogenfluoride and Fremys method , the result ,a yellow gas fluoride. Finally afterthe loss several scientists lives, not to mention the pain and suffering feltat the hands of chemists piece strange chemicals ate through their vital organs.All of this in the name of Science, and there quest to find naked as a jaybird elements.That can accomplish many new wonderful things such as the separation of