To introduce fluorine atoms into a chemical compound through a chemical reaction.
From fluorine + -ate (verb suffix indicating to treat with or combine with a substance). A technical chemistry term developed as fluorine chemistry advanced in the 20th century.
Fluorinating chemicals is tricky because fluorine is the most reactive element known—it reacts with almost everything—so chemists had to develop special techniques, and fluorinated compounds are now used in refrigerants, medicines, and non-stick coatings.
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