Bond Dissociation Energy in Trifluoride Ion

The bond dissociation energies in F 3 - are determined from energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation cross sections measurements in two tandem mass spectrometers. The gas-phase F 2 −F - bond dissociation energy is measured to be 1.02 ± 0.11 eV, and the energy for dissociation to F + F 2 - is 0.28 ± 0.07 eV higher. After accounting for solvation energies, it is shown that the F 3 - is not expected to be stable with respect to dissociation in aqueous solution. Last, from the spectroscopic parameters, it is deduced that F 2 - formation is favored at high energies, in agreement with experimental results.