Paradoxes and paradigms: observations on pyrohydrolysis,oxygen bomb combustion,and alkaline carbonate fusion,most frequently used decomposition methods for subsequent determination of fluorine and accompanying thermochemistry

Pyrohydrolysis, oxygen bomb combustion, and alkaline carbonate fusion are the most frequently used methods for decomposition of fluorine containing materials. The efficiency of these methods was proven by the determination of fluorine content in certified reference materials of clay and vegetation. Possible reactions proceeding during decomposition were suggested and accompanying thermochemistry discussed. The Gibbs energies were estimated to establish if suggested reactions are thermodynamically favorable or not. In addition, linear relationships between the enthalpies of formation of metal fluorides and the balanced values of the enthalpies of formation of the plausible reaction products (metal tungstates, metal oxides, or metal carbonates), electronegativity of metals, and number of fluorine atoms in metal fluorides were established. These equations were suggested for the estimation of the enthalpies of formation of metal tungstates, metal oxides, or metal carbonates, for which experimental data are not available.