Radon fluoride (
RaF) is a compound of radon, an inert or
noble gas. Inert gases are
chemically unreactive because their outermost
electron shells are completely filled with
electrons.
However, radon reacts readily with
fluorine. The forces between radon's outermost electrons and the
atomic nucleus are weakened by distance and the interference of other electrons, enough that the energy gained in creating a radon fluoride molecule is greater than the energy required for promotion of the reaction. The compound is chemically stable, although a powerful
oxidizing agent. The usefulness of radon compounds is limited because the longest-lived
isotope of radon has a
half-life of only 3.82 days.
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