Fluorine does not occur in the free state in nature because
Answer Details
Fluorine is a highly reactive element and readily reacts with other elements to form compounds. This high reactivity is why fluorine does not occur in the free state in nature. Instead, it is found in the earth's crust combined with other elements in compounds such as fluorite (calcium fluoride), cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride), and fluorspar (calcium fluoride).
The high reactivity of fluorine is due to its electron configuration, which makes it highly electronegative. This means that it has a strong tendency to attract electrons to itself, making it highly reactive and prone to forming chemical bonds with other elements.
So, the reason fluorine does not occur in the free state in nature is due to its high reactivity, which corresponds to: of its high reactivity.