What is the chief use of hydrogen fluoride?

Answer 1

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is the principal industrial source of fluorine, often in the aqueous form as hydrofluoric acid, and thus is the precursor to many important compounds including pharmaceuticals and polymers (for example, Teflon). HF is widely used in the petrochemical industry and is a component of many extra strong acid solutions.

HF serves as a cata;ust in alkylation processes in oil refineries. A component of high-octane gasoline called "alkylate" is generated in Alyylation units that that combine C3 and C4 olefins and isobutane to generate gasoline.

HF is also used to frost and etch glass through "acid etching", but this requires much less HF than the use as a catalyst in gasoline production.