AbstractsChemistry

The first successful production of fluorine electrolytically was carried out by H. Moissan (1). He electrolysed anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, to which potassium hydrogen fluoride had been added to render it conducting. A platinum U-tube was used as a container, the openings being closed with fluorite stoppers in which platinum-iridium electrodes were set. Later he found a copper container to be satisfactory, but platinum electrodes were necessary, copper electrodes being unsuitable due to the formation of a non-conducting film of copper fluoride. He cooled the container with chloromethane to prevent excessive loss of hydrogen fluoride due to the heat generated by the passage of the electrolytic current. [...]