4 ms·
> You'll find fluorine atoms in a disproportionate number of poisons You'll also find carbon in a disproportionate number of poisons. The horror!
by jjoonathan 5y ago
> You'll find fluorine atoms in a disproportionate number of poisons
You'll also find carbon in a disproportionate number of poisons. The horror!
- lend000 5y agoI know this is an attempt at humor, but this kind of low quality engagement has no place on HN. Carbon is the backbone of almost all compounds used by life. Feel free to check the ratio of poisons/non-poisons containing Carbon and those containing Fluorine and report back. Carbon is fundamentally different than halogens and really all other nonmetals due to its unique, strong affinity for 4 bonds, its small size, its relative non-electronegativity compared to other common elements in organic compounds (besides hydrogen), and the lack of d orbital complexity. Source: I'm a computational chemist.