Characteristic

Molybdenum hexafluoride, also molybdenum(VI) fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula MoF₆. It is the highest fluoride of molybdenum. A colourless solid, it melts just below room temperature.

Chemical formula：MoF₆

Molar mass：209.93 g/mol

Appearance：white crystals or colorless liquid hygroscopic

Density：3.50 g/cm³

Melting point：17.5 °C (63.5 °F; 290.6 K)

Boiling point：34.0 °C (93.2 °F; 307.1 K)

Solubility in water：hydrolyzes

Magnetic susceptibility (χ)：−26.0·10−6 cm³/mol

Crystal structure：Orthorhombic, oP28

Application

Molybdenum hexafluoride has few uses. In the nuclear industry, MoF6 occurs as an impurity in uranium hexafluoride since molybdenum is a fission product of uranium. It is also an impurity in tungsten hexafluoride, which is used in the semiconductor industry. MoF6 can be removed by reduction of a WF6-MoF6 mixture with any of a number of elements including molybdenum at moderately elevated temperature.