How Is Sulfur Hexafluoride Made?

It is usually made by burning sulphur in an atmosphere of fluorine, though it can be prepared by pyrolysis of SF5Cl (whose synthesis does not require the use of elemental fluorine).

How do you make sulfur hexafluoride?

Preparation: Sulfur hexafluoride is synthesized by expositing elemental sulfur (crystal solid S8) and elemental fluorine (gas F2) at 300 ºC. After the reaction finishes, the SF6 is purified by heating or alkali washing to remove other SxFy gases.

Where does sulfur hexafluoride come from?

There are no natural sources of sulfur hexafluoride; it originates entirely from human activities. It has a very long atmospheric lifetime.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.