Germanic Fluoride, GeF₄

Germanic Fluoride, GeF₄, has not been obtained in a pure anhydrous state, but is probably formed when the crystallohydrate GeF₄.3H₂O is heated in a stream of carbon dioxide, as well as when a mixture of germanic oxide, calcium fluoride, and sulphuric acid is distilled.

The hydrate GeF₄.3H₂O is obtained in large crystals when a solution of the dioxide in aqueous hydrofluoric acid is evaporated over sulphuric acid. These crystals are hygroscopic and easily dissolve in water; the solution, however, suffers hydrolysis, so that glass is etched by the liberated hydrofluoric acid.