Can Potassium Fluoride Be Used for Electrolysis?

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SUMMARY

Potassium fluoride (KF) is not suitable for electrolysis in aqueous solutions due to the instability of fluoride ions when dissolved in water. The discussion highlights that fluoride ions can react violently in water, necessitating the use of pure hydrofluoric acid (HF) for solvation. The toxicity of potassium fluoride is noted, with an LD50 of 245 mg/kg in rats, significantly higher than that of sodium cyanide (NaCN). The consensus is that generating fluorine gas typically requires molten fluoride salts rather than aqueous solutions.

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redwraith94
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Can I use potassium fluoride for electrolysis? Instead of KOH, or NaOH.

This cell will be operated @ near 90 C, so I want the graphite electrodes to last as long as possible. I just need to know if the fluoride ion can be oxidized in an aqueous solution...I know fluorine gas is usually generated with a molten fluoride salt, so I don't think it will happen in sol, but I'm not sure.

I DO understand the toxicity of the compound...

245 mg per kg LD 50 in a rat...compared to NaCN's 9 mg per kg

I just need to know if the fluoride ion is stable in sol, or not?
 
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It must be soluted in pure HF. If KF is soluted in water then the fluoride anions will react with it violently.
 
Hodes said:
It must be soluted in pure HF. If KF is soluted in water then the fluoride anions will react with it violently.

Pure nonsense.
 

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