Fluorosulfuric acid

Fluorosulfuric acid
Identifiers
CAS number 7789-21-1 Y
PubChem 24603
ChemSpider 23005 Y
EC number 232-149-4
UN number 1777
MeSH Fluorosulfonic+acid
RTECS number LP0715000
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Image 2
Properties
Molecular formula HFO3S
Molar mass 100.07 g mol−1
Exact mass 99.963042793 g mol-1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Density 1.84 g cm-3
Melting point

185.7 K

Boiling point

438.5 K

Acidity (pKa) -10
Basicity (pKb) 24
Structure
Coordination
geometry
Tetragonal at S
Molecular shape Tetrahedral at S
Hazards
MSDS ICSC 0996
EU Index 016-018-00-7
EU classification Xn C
R-phrases R20, R35
S-phrases (S1/2), S26, S45
Related compounds
Related compounds Antimony pentafluoride
Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid
Hydrofluoric acid
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Fluorosulfuric acid (IUPAC name: sulfurofluoridic acid) is the inorganic compound with the formula HSO3F. It is one of the strongest acids commercially available and is a superacid. The formula HFSO3 emphasizes its relationship to sulfuric acid, H2SO4; HSO3F is a tetrahedral molecule.

Contents

Chemical properties

Fluorosulfuric acid is a free-flowing colorless liquid. It is soluble in polar organic solvents (e.g. nitrobenzene, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate), but poorly soluble in nonpolar solvents such as alkanes. Reflecting its strong acidity, it dissolves almost all organic compounds that are even weak proton acceptors.[1] FSO3H hydrolyzes slowly to HF and sulfuric acid. The related triflic acid (CF3SO3H) retains the high acidity of FSO3H but is more hydrolytically stable. The self ionization of fluorosulfonic acid also occurs:

2HSO3F [H2SO3F]+ + [SO3F]- K = 4.0 x 10-8 (at 298K)

Production

Fluorosulfuric acid is prepared by the reaction of HF and sulfur trioxide:

SO3 + HF → FSO3H

Alternatively, KHF2 or CaF2 can be treated with oleum at 250 °C. Once freed from HF by sweeping with an inert gas, FSO3H can be distilled in a glass apparatus.[2]

Super-acids

FSO3H is one of the strongest known simple Brønsted acids, although recent work on carborane-based acids have led to still stronger acids.[3] It has an H0 value of −15.1 compared to −12 for sulfuric acid. The combination of FSO3H and the Lewis acid antimony pentafluoride produces "Magic acid," which is a far stronger protonating agent. These acids all fall into the category of "superacids", acids stronger than 100% sulfuric acid.

Applications

FSO3H is useful for regenerating mixtures of HF and H2SO4 for etching lead glass.

FSO3H isomerizes alkanes and the alkylation of hydrocarbons with alkenes,[4] although it is unclear if such applications are of commercial importance. It can also be used as a laboratory fluorinating agent.[2]

Safety

Fluorosulfuric acid is considered to be highly toxic and corrosive. It hydrolyzes to release HF. Addition of water to FSO3H can be violent, similar to the addition of water to sulfuric acid. Addition of fluorosulfuric acid to water is much more violent process than addition of sulfuric acid.

See also

References

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  2. ^ a b Cotton, F.A.; Wilkinson, G. (1980) Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: A Comprehensive Text, 4th Edition, p.246, Wiley-Interscience Publications.
  3. ^ M. Juhasz, S. Hoffmann, E. Stoyanov, K.-C. Kim, C. A. Reed, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2004, volume 43, 5352 - 5355.
  4. ^ Olah, G.; Farooq, O.; Husain, A.; Ding, N.; Trivedi, N.; Olah, J. (1991) Superacid FSO3H/HF-Catalyzed Butane Isomerisation. Catalysis Letters 10, 239-248.