However, while teaching at the University of British Columbia, Neil Bartlett discovered that the gas platinum hexafluoride (PtF6) was a powerful oxidizing agent that could oxidize oxygen gas (O2) to form dioxygenyl hexafluoroplatinate (O+ 2− ).
Men mens Neil Bartlett underviste ved University of British Columbia, opdagede han at gassen platinhexafluorid (PtF6) var et stærkt oxidationsmiddel, som kunne oxidere ilt (O2) og derved danne dioxygenylhexaflouroplatinat (O2+−).