First Uses of the Periodic Table Element -Fluorine. From Discovery to Disuse: The Fascinating Journey of Fluorine’s First Uses. Fluorine, the highly reactive and electronegative chemical element, was first isolated in 1886 by Henri Moissan. It quickly garnered attention for its unique properties, engendering great excitement in the scientific community. Chemists anticipated its potential applications across various industries, but over time, the impracticality and hazards associated with its use led to the abandonment of many early applications. In this article, we explore the first uses of fluorine and the reasons why it is no longer employed for those purposes today.