Fluorine
The 9th element in the atomic series is Fluorine. It has 9 electrons and is given the chemical symbol F. With 9 electrons, Fluorine is very anxious to find another electrons so it's outer electron shell is full. You could describe Fluorine as being very hungry for another electron. This hunger for another electron makes Fluorine the most reactive of all the elements.
When scientists discovered the way electrons were arranged in shells in the different elements and also that different elements had different numbers of electrons, they also noticed that elements with the same number of electrons in their outer shells had similar behaviours. They then gave family names to elements with similar behaviours. Fluorine is the first member of the Halogen family.
The name Fluorine comes from the Latin word Fluo which means stream or flow of water. Fluorine was given that name because scientists noticed that Fluorine helped molten metal to flow. Molecules with Fluorine are not good at sticking to other molecules. Scientists have used this non-sticky behaviour to create a Fluorine containing molecule called Teflon. Teflon is the black slippy material used on the surface of frying pans to stop sausages and other things sticking to the pan.
Many of you will have heard about Fluoride. Fluoride is the name given to a fluorine atom which has an extra electron. Fluoride is present in very small quantities in toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. While a small amount helps prevent tooth decay, larger amounts are bad for you and can make dark marks on teeth and cause other problems. This is why you should use only a pea sized piece of toothpaste on your toothbrush and spit out the toothpaste instead of swallowing it.
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