Science, Tech, Math › Science What Is Fluoride? Fluoride vs. Fluorine Share Flipboard Email Print You can find fluoride in fluoridated toothpaste. ipuwadol / Getty Images Science Chemistry Molecules Basics Chemical Laws Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. our editorial process Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Updated March 06, 2019 Are you confused about the difference between fluoride and fluorine or simply want to know what fluoride is? Here's the answer to this common chemistry question. Key Takeaways: What Is Fluoride? Fluoride is the name given to the negatively-charged ion of the fluorine atom (F).A fluoride may also be the name of a compound that contains the element.Fluoride is found in toothpaste and public water supplies in some countries. Other countries view fluoride as a toxic compound and seek to remove it from their water. Fluoride is the negative ion of the element fluorine. The symbol for the element fluorine is F. Fluoride often is written as F-, which stands for the anion of fluorine that has a -1 electrical charge. Any compound, whether it is organic or inorganic, that contains the fluoride ion is also known as a fluoride. Examples include CaF2 (calcium fluoride) and NaF (sodium fluoride). Ions containing the fluoride ion are similarly called fluorides (e.g., bifluoride, HF2−). To summarize: fluorine is an element; fluoride is an ion or a compound which contains the fluoride ion. Fluorides are found in toothpaste and added to public drinking water in some countries. Water fluoridation usually is accomplished by adding sodium fluoride (NaF), fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6), or sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6) to drinking water.