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USES OF FLUORINE
Compounds of fluorine have many uses. Hydrogen fluoride is used to make aluminum, and fluorides are used to make steel, chemicals, ceramics, lubricants, dyes, plastics, and pesticides. Chlorofluorocarbons are odorless and nonpoisonous liquids or gases, and are used as a dispersing agent in aerosol sprays. These chemicals were found in 1974 to be reaching the stratosphere and destroying the earth's ozone layer. Since then the production of these chemicals have phased out. To prevent cavities, toothpaste and mouth rinses have fluorides in them. The proper proportion of fluorides in drinking water is used to reduce tooth decay. Teflon, a fluorine plastic that is very resistant to a lot of chemical action, is widely used to make products like motor gaskets and dashboard accessories in the automobile industry. Teflon is also used as a coating on the inner surface of frying pans and other kitchen utensils to reduce the need for fat in cooking. Skin medicines and cancer treatment drugs contain fluorides. The liquid fluorinated hydrocarbons derived from petroleum are useful as highly stable lubricating oils. Uranium hexafluoride is the only volatile compound of uranium, and is used in the gaseous diffusion process to provide fuel for atomic power plants.