Fluorine is a very reactive element, and as such is often not seen in its elemental form. It is the 13th most common element in the Earth’s crust. Most fluorine is used is in the form of a fluorine compound, which is made of fluorine and other atoms. Chances are that most of the products and uses that come to mind when you think of fluorine are in a compound form as opposed to elemental fluorine.
That isn’t to say, of course, that elemental fluorine doesn’t have its uses; often it is used as a catalyst for other reactions or to help certain processes work smoothly. It is also used in manufacturing for a variety of purposes, including the creation of specific isotopes or as an ingredient in compounds that will be used elsewhere.
To give you a better idea of exactly how useful fluorine is, consider the following uses for both elemental fluorine and fluorine compounds
Uses of Elemental Fluorine
One of the more common uses of elemental fluorine is in rocket fuels, where it works in a manner similar to oxygen and helps the other materials in the fuel to burn.
There are still some uses for elemental fluorine in...