Calcium Fluoride is a solid and forms a cube like structure that is centralized around the calcium molecules. The crystal lattice structure that Calcium Fluoride is also known as the fluorite structure (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)) where the Ca 2+ ions are eight-coordinate, being centered in a cube of eight F − ions. Each F − is coordinated to four Ca 2+ in the shape of a tetrahedron. Calcium Fluoride is Quasilinear When Calcium Fluoride is in a single molecule it forms a Quasilinear structure. Quasilinear means the molecule resonates between a linear shape and a bent shape.Calcium Fluoride is a polyatomic molecule that contains one calcium molecule and two fluoride molecules. Calcium Fluoride is a quasilinear molecule the bonds are created from the single electrons of calcium and the single electron from fluoride. \(\ce{CaF2}\) has its electrons contained with in the 3d orbitals and are able to move between d yz and d z 2 squared. The molecule in linear when they are in the d z 2 orbitals the molecule is also the most stable in this shape. When the electrons are in the d yz orbitals the molecule becomes bent. The molecule resonates between these two shapes making it quasilinear. Figures two and three show how the d-orbitals cause the molecule to bend. Fig # 1 Fig # 2 Fig # 3 References Maushake, Peter. Calcium fluoride Chrystals. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & CO. http://www.wiley-vch.de/berlin/journals/op/08-02/OP0802_S46-S47.pdf (October 07, 2010) Fergus, Jeffery W. The Application of Solid Fluoride Electrolytes in Chemical Sensors. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. Web Journal, 22. no 2. www.sciencedirect.com/science...f&searchtype=a (Oct 7, 2010) Housecroft, Catherine. Inorganic Chemistry. Pearson Prentice Hall 2008.