Iodine trifluoride is an interhalogen compound with the chemical formula IF<sub>3</sub>. It is a yellow solid which decomposes above âÂÂ28 ðC. It can be synthesised from the elements, but care must be taken to avoid the formation of IF<sub>5</sub>.
F<sub>2</sub> reacts with I<sub>2</sub> to yield IF<sub>3</sub> at âÂÂ45 ðC in CCl<sub>3</sub>F. Alternatively, at low temperatures, the fluorination reaction I<sub>2</sub> + 3XeF<sub>2</sub> â 2IF<sub>3</sub> + 3Xe can be used. Not much is known about iodine trifluoride as it is so unstable.
The iodine atom of iodine trifluoride has five electron pairs, of which two are lone-pairs, and the molecule is T-shaped as predicted by VSEPR Theory.