Sodium tetrafluoroborate

Chemical properties

white crystals or powder

The Uses of Sodium tetrafluoroborate

Fluorinating agent, see Lawton, Levy, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 77, 6083 (1955).

The Uses of Sodium tetrafluoroborate

Sodium Tetrafluoroborate is used in various metal finishing and plating circuits.

The Uses of Sodium tetrafluoroborate

Sodium tetrafluoroborate may be used for the laboratory synthesis of boron fluoride. It may be used for the synthesis of fluoro-nucleic acids and fluoroheterocyclic compounds.

General Description

Sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF₄) is colorless sodium salt and its crystals belong to the rhombic crystal system. It can be synthesized by reacting tetrafluoroboric acid with sodium carbonate or hydroxide.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by subcutaneous route. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Fand Na2O.

Purification Methods

Crystallise the fluoroborate from hot water (50mL/g) by cooling to 0o. Alternatively, free it from insoluble material by dissolving it in a minimum amount of water; then fluoride ions are removed by adding concentrated lanthanum nitrate in excess. After removing lanthanum fluoride by centrifugation, the supernatant is passed through a cation-exchange column (Dowex 50, Na+-form) to remove any remaining lanthanum [Anbar & Guttman J Phys Chem 64 1896 1960]. It has also been recrystallised from anhydrous MeOH and dried in a vacuum at 70o for 16hours. Keep it dry as it is hygrosopic. [Delville et al. J Am Chem Soc 109 7293 1987.]