Oxygen difluoride

Oxygen difluoride is the chemical compound with the formula OF2. It has a V-shaped molecular structure like H2O, but has different properties. It is a strong oxidizer.

Preparation
Oxygen difluoride was first prepared in 1929. It was made by the electrolysis of molten potassium fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. The chemicals had a small amount of moisture. Paul Lebeau; Damiens, A. "A New Method for the Preparation of the Fluorine Oxide”Compt. rend. 1929, volume 188, 1253-5.Lebeau, P.; Damiens, A. "The Existence of an Oxygen Compound of Fluorine"Compt. rend. 1927, volume 185, pages 652-4.  In the modern day, it is prepared by the reaction of fluorine with a dilute aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. Sodium fluoride is left as a side-product:

2 F2 + 2 NaOH →  OF2 + 2 NaF + H2O

Reactions
It is a very powerful oxidizing agent. This is proved by the oxidation number of +2 for the  oxygen atom. This oxidising number is quite unusual. Above 200 °C, OF2 decomposes to oxygen and fluorine.

OF2 reacts with many metals. It produces oxides and fluorides.  Nonmetals also react with it. Phosphorus reacts with OF2 to form PF5 and POF3. Sulfur produces SO2 and SF4 with it. A noble gas, xenon also reacts with it. It produces XeF4 and xenon oxyfluorides.

Oxygen difluoride reacts very slowly with water to form hydrofluoric acid:
OF2 (aq) + H2O (aq) → 2 HF (aq) + O2 (g)

Oxygen difluoride oxidizes sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide:
OF2 + SO2 → SO3 + F2
However, in the presence of UV radiation the products are sulfuryl fluoride, , and pyrosulfuryl fluoride, :

OF2 + 2 SO2 → 

Safety
OF2 is a dangerous chemical. This is because it is highly oxidising.
References

Other websites
 National Pollutant Inventory - Fluoride and compounds fact sheet 
 WebBook page for OF2 

Category:Fluorine compounds
Category:Oxygen compounds