Atomic weight = 18.9984 9F Electron configuration = 1s22s22p5

Fluorine is in Group 17 and has a valence electron configuration ns2np5. Fluorine, the first member of the Group called the halogens, is a pale-yellow gas, F2(g), at room temperature and 1 atmosphere pressure. Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent known and is the most reactive of all the elements. Fluorine is used to produce the volatile compound UF6 for the production of fuel for nuclear power plants. This compound was also used to separate 235UF6 from 238UF6 by gaseous diffusion. It is 235U that is used in nuclear devices. Another very important use of fluorine is in the production of teflon, -(-CF2-CF2-)-.