VPT-Fluorine(F) Multi-cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Fluorine is the chemical element with atomic number 9, represented by the symbol F. Under normal conditions, elemental fluorine is a pale yellow gas of diatomic molecules, F2. In stars, fluorine is relatively rare especially for such a light element. In the Earth's crust, fluorine is more common: the 13th most abundant element. The lightest halogen, fluorine has a single stable isotope, fluorine-19.
Fluorine is the thirteenth most common element in Earth's crust, making up between 600 and 700 ppm of the crust by mass.
"Fluorine" is a word that ultimately derives from the Latin noun fluo, meaning stream. The mineral fluorite, a natural form of calcium fluoride, was first mentioned in 1529 by Georgius Agricola, who named it after its use as a "flux"—an additive that helps melt ores and slags during smelting. Agricola first named the mineral "fluorspar" as a latinization of the German Flußspat. Since then, the mineral has been renamed "fluorite," although "fluorspar" is still sometimes used.
Owing to its extreme reactivity, elemental fluorine was not isolated until many years after the characterization of fluorite. Progress in isolating elemental fluorine was slowed because it could only be prepared electrolytically and even then under stringent conditions, since the gas attacks all but certain exotic materials. The generation of elemental fluorine from hydrofluoric acid proved to be exceptionally dangerous, killing or blinding several scientists who attempted early experiments on this halogen.
Approximately half of mined fluorite is used to help molten metal flow, especially in iron smelting. The other half is converted to hydrofluoric acid, which is mostly used to produce organofluorides or synthetic cryolite.
The reduced version of this element, known as Fluoride, is also known to have been introduced into the public water system as a way to battle against tooth decay. Contrary to “certain” members of this society’s beliefs, fluoride has not been found to cause any health problems at the levels in which it exists in these water supplies. However, the ethics behind this are up for debate as fluoridation presents a conflict between benefiting the common good and infringing on individual rights.
About the Cache:
This cache has two stages, both of which exist on a portion of the South Burlington bike trail. It is part of the VT periodic table spawner series started by Flimby. As a result of my above discussion of fluoridation of public drinking water, the first stage in this multi is placed near a stream. At the first stage you will find coords for the final. There is really only enough space in the final for a logbook and small pencil, but FTF honors receives a nice $1 greenback for their efforts.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)