Tag: Fluorite

The element fluorine is too reactive and toxic for human consumption, but its stable ion, fluoride, is a crucial compound for dental health. About 73% of the U.S. population receives fluoridated water, a major source of human intake.

Fluorine is the 13th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, yet its high reactivity ensures it is never found in its pure elemental form in nature. Instead, this powerful halogen is locked within compounds, primarily the colorful and commercially vital mineral known as fluorite.