氟和不同的金属的反应所需要条件不同。常温下，碱金属可以直接与氟反应并引起爆炸，碱土金属也可以直接与氟发生剧烈的反应。但是铝、铁这样的金属在常温下与氟作用，金属表面会形成一层氟化物而阻止反应进一步发生。换言之，它们会被氟钝化。如果要用这些金属和氟直接反应制备氟化物，需要将它们磨成粉末。贵金属需要在300–450 °C 的温度下才能与纯氟发生反应。
The reaction conditions of fluorine and different metals are different. Under normal temperature, alkali metal can react with fluorine directly and cause explosion, and alkali earth metal can also react with fluorine directly and violently. However, when aluminum and iron react with fluorine at room temperature, a layer of fluoride will be formed on the surface of the metal to prevent further reaction. In other words, they are passivated by fluorine. If these metals are to react with fluorine directly to prepare fluorides, they need to be ground into powder. Precious metals need to be at 300 – 450 ° C to react with pure fluorine.