What Is the Worlds Strongest Superacid

You may be thinking the acid in the alien blood in the popular movie is pretty far-fetched, but the truth is, theres is an acid that is even more corrosive! Learn about the words strongest superacid: fluoroantimonic acid.   Strongest Superacid The worlds strongest superacid is fluoroantimonic acid, HSbF6. It is formed by mixing hydrogen fluoride (HF) and antimony pentafluoride (SbF5). Various mixtures produce the superacid, but mixing equal ratios of the two acids produces the strongest superacid known to man. Properties of Fluoroantimonic Acid Superacid Rapidly and explosively decomposes upon contact with water. Because of this property, fluoroantimonic acid cannot be used in aqueous solution. It is only used in a solution of hydrofluoric acid.Evolves highly toxic vapors. As the temperature is increased, fluoroantimonic acid decomposes and generates hydrogen fluoride gas (hydrofluoric acid).Fluoroantimonic acid is 2Ãâ€"1019 (20 quintillion) times stronger than 100% sulfuric acid. Fluoroantimonic acid has a H0 (Hammett acidity function) value of -31.3.Dissolves glass and many other materials and protonates nearly all organic compounds (such as everything in your body). This acid is stores in PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) containers. What Is It Used For? If its so toxic and dangerous, why would anyone want to have fluoroantimonic acid? The answer lies in its extreme properties. Fluoroantimonic acid is used in chemical engineering and organic chemistry to protonate organic compounds, regardless of their solvent. For example, the acid can be used to remove H2 from isobutane and methane from neopentane. It is used as a catalyst for alkylations and acylations in petrochemistry. Superacids in general are used to synthesize and characterize carbocations. Reaction Between Hydrofluoric Acid and Antimony Pentafluoride The reaction between hydrogen fluoride and antimony pentrafluoride that forms fluoroantimonic acid is exothermic. HF SbF5 → H SbF6- The hydrogen ion (proton) attaches to the fluorine via a very weak dipolar bond. The weak bond accounts for the extreme acidity of fluoroantimonic acid, allowing the proton to jump between anion clusters. What Make Fluoroantimonic Acid a Superacid? A superacid is any acid that is stronger than pure sulfuric acid, H2SO4. By stronger, it means a superacid donates more protons or hydrogen ions in water or has a Hammet acidity function H0 lower than -12. The Hammet acidity function for fluorantimonic acid is H0 -28. Other Superacids Other superacids include the carborane superacids [e.g.,  H(CHB11Cl11)] and fluorosulfuric acid (HFSO3). The carborane superacids may be considered the worlds strongest solo acid, as fluoroantimonic acid is actually a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and antimony pentafluoride. Carborane has a pH value of -18. Unlike fluorosulfuric acid and fluoroantimonic acid, the carborane acids are so noncorrosive that they may be handled with bare skin. Teflon, the non-stick coating often found on cookware, may contain carborante. The carborane acids are also relatively uncommon, so its unlikely a chemistry student would encounter one of them. Strongest Superacid Key Takeaways A superacid has an acidity greater than that of pure sulfuric acid.The worlds strongest superacid is fluoroantimonic acid.Fluoroantimonic acid is a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and antimony pentafluoride.The carbonane superacids are the strongest solo acids. Sources Hall NF, Conant JB (1927). A Study of Superacid Solutions. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 49 (12): 3062ndash, 70. doi:10.1021/ja01411a010Herlem, Michel (1977). Are reactions in superacid media due to protons or to powerful oxidising species such as SO3 or SbF5?. Pure and Applied Chemistry. 49: 107–113. doi:10.1351/pac197749010107