Sulfur hexafluoride or sulphur hexafluoride (British spelling) is an inorganic compound with the formula SF6. It is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable, and non-toxic gas. SF
6 has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a hypervalent molecule.[citation needed]
Typical for a nonpolar gas, SF
6 is poorly soluble in water but quite soluble in nonpolar organic solvents. It has a density of 6.12 g/L at sea level conditions, considerably higher than the density of air (1.225 g/L). It is generally stored and transported as a liquefied compressed gas.[8]
SF
6 has 23, 500 times greater global warming potential (GWP) than CO2 as a greenhouse gas (over a 100-year time-frame) but exists in relatively minor concentrations in the atmosphere. Its concentration in Earth's troposphere reached 11.50 parts per trillion (ppt) in October 2023, rising at 0.37 ppt/year.[9] The increase since 1980 is driven in large part by the expanding electric power sector, including fugitive emissions from banks of SF
6 gas contained in its medium- and high-voltage switchgear. Uses in magnesium, aluminium, and electronics manufacturing also hastened atmospheric growth.[10] The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which came into force in 2005, is supposed to limit emissions of this gas. In a somewhat nebulous way it has been included as part of the carbon emission trading scheme. In some countries this has led to the defunction of entire industries.[11]
Keywords
037 pptyear9
612 gl
large part
greenhouse gas
air 1225 gl
poorly soluble
entire industries11
limit emissions
1997 kyoto protocol
electronics manufacturing
magnesium aluminium
highvoltage switchgear
fugitive emissions
october 2023 rising
trillion ppt
minor concentrations
100year timeframe
generally stored
formula sf6
inorganic compound
sulfur hexafluoride
central sulfur atom
hastened atmospheric growth10
nonpolar organic solvents
fluorine atoms attached
octahedral geometry consisting
colorless odorless nonflammable
