An octafluoride is a compound or ion with the formula [MmRn F 8]q− or [MmRnF8]q+, where n, m and q are independent variables and R any substituent and M is a central element (often a metal). All of the examples listed below are [MF8]q− with q between 1 and 4 inclusive.
No electrically neutral octafluorides are currently known to exist, although osmium octafluoride, OsF8, is theoretically possible. An early report of the synthesis of OsF8 was much later shown to be a mistaken identification of OsF6. [1]
In contrast, many anionic octafluorides are known, such as the octafluorozirconate(IV) ([ZrF8]4−), octafluorotantalate(V) ([TaF8]3−), octafluoroniobate(V) ([NbF8]3−), [1] octafluoromolybdate(VI) ([MoF8]2−), [1] octafluorotungstate(VI) ([WF8]2−), [1] octafluororhenate(VII) ([ReF8]−), [1] octafluoroiodate(VII) ([IF8]−), octafluoroiridate(VII) ([IrF8]−), [2] and octafluoroxenate(VI) ([XeF8]2−) anions.
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