Question

Fluorine decomposes cold water to give:

• A. $4H^{+}+4F^{-}and{O}_2$
• B. $HF$ and $H_2$
• C. $HF$ only
• D. $H_2{F}_{2}andHF{O}_4$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$4H^{+}+4F^{-}and{O}_2$

Fluorine on reaction with cold water gives $HF$ and oxygen. $F_2$ due to its high oxidizing power oxidizes water to oxygen and ozone by ripping apart hydrogen bond from water and bonding with fluorine to form hydrofluoric acid. The yield of Ozone is less as compared to oxygen thereby considering ozone as an impurity.

$2F_2+2H_{2}O\to 4H^{+}+4F^{-}+O_2$