Studies have proven conclusively that flouride is an effective tooth decay preventative. As a result, in the late 1960's and 1970s, many communities in the United States began adding trace quantities of flouride to their drinking water supplies. However, strong opposition arose against this "tempering' with the water supply. One of the common arguments was that flourine was known to be a deadly gas. What would be your response to this argument?
2007-11-02 13:44:31 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
They don't put fluorine in the water. They put a compound of fluoride, most likely sodium fluoride.
Sodium is highly volatile. Chlorine is a deadly gas. Put them together and your popcorn tastes better.
Just because the components are deadly doesn't make the compounds deadly.
2007-11-02 13:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm i beleive something to do with fluorine being harmfull is the fact that it trys to gain electrons, and can strip electrons from elements with a weaker pull on there electrons so for instance the electrons of the atoms of your body, but if the fluorine is provided in a compound it should be stable with a full outer shell of electrons. So if thats the main reason why fluorine is dangerous then my answer i think would suffice, but if its down to something else, then im afraid i dont know.
2007-11-02 13:51:26 · answer #2 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋