Argon fluorohydride

"HArF" redirects here. For other uses, see Harf (disambiguation).

Argon fluorohydride
Other names Argon hydrofluoride
Identifiers
CAS number	163731-16-6
ChemSpider	15863741 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES F[ArH]
InChI InChI=1S/ArFH/c1-2/h1H Y Key: HEPJAPHKUAGBIG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/ArFH/c1-2/h1H Key: HEPJAPHKUAGBIG-UHFFFAOYAL
Properties
Molecular formula	HArF
Molar mass	59.954 g/mol
Appearance	Unknown
Density	Unknown
Melting point	−256°C (Decomposes)
Solubility in water	Unknown
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Argon fluorohydride (HArF) is the only known neutral compound of the chemical element argon.

Discovery

The discovery of this first argon compound is credited to a group of Finnish scientists, led by Markku Räsänen. On 24 August 2000, in the journal Nature, they announced their discovery of argon fluorohydride.

Synthesis

This chemical was synthesized by mixing argon and hydrogen fluoride on a caesium iodide surface at 8 K (−265 °C), and exposing the mixture to ultraviolet radiation. This caused the gases to combine.

The infrared spectrum of the resulting gas mixture shows that it definitely contains chemical bonds, albeit very weak ones; thus, it is argon fluorohydride, and not a supermolecule or a mixture of argon and hydrogen fluoride. Its chemical bonds are stable only if the substance is kept at temperatures below 17 K (−256 °C); upon warming, it decomposes into argon and hydrogen fluoride.

Further reading

• Emsley, John (2001). Nature's Building Blocks: An A–Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850341-5.