fluorspar

or flu·or spar

[ floo-awr-spahr, -er- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Mineralogy.

fluorspar

/ ˈflʊəˌspɑː /

a white or colourless mineral sometimes fluorescent and often tinted by impurities, found in veins and as deposits from hot gases. It is used in the manufacture of glass, enamel, and jewellery, and is the chief ore of fluorine. Composition: calcium fluoride. Formula: CaF 2 . Crystal structure: cubic AlsoUS and Canadianfluorite

First recorded in 1785–95; fluor- + spar ³

The oxyfluoride, CrO2F2, is obtained in a similar manner to the oxychloride by using fluorspar in place of common salt.

The crystals occurred in association with topaz, fluorspar and cassiterite; but they were mostly of rather pale colour.

Hydrofluoric acid is readily obtained from fluorspar by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid.

A mixture of fluorspar and sulphuric acid is then painted over the vessel and after a few minutes the vessel is washed clean.

Fluorspar has already been mentioned as the chief natural compound of fluorine.

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