Teflic acid

Teflic acid
IUPAC name Pentafluoroorthotelluric acid
Other names Teflic acid
Identifiers
	ChemSpider	10331773 Y
Jmol-3D images	{{#if:F[Te](F)(F)(F)(F)O|Image 1
SMILES F[Te](F)(F)(F)(F)O
InChI InChI=1S/F5HOTe/c1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h6H Y Key: OAOSLENTGBMCNC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/F5HOTe/c1-7(2,3,4,5)6/h6H Key: OAOSLENTGBMCNC-UHFFFAOYAO
Properties
Molecular formula	HF5OTe
Molar mass	239.6
Appearance	colorless solid
Melting point	39.1 °C
Boiling point	59.7 °C
Hazards
Main hazards	corrosive, toxic
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Teflic acid is the chemical compound with the formula HOTeF₅. This strong acid is related to orthotelluric acid, Te(OH)₆. Teflic acid has octahedral geometry and, Ignoring its bent Te-O-H bond, has point group symmetry C_4v.

Preparation

Teflic acid can be prepared from barium tellurate and fluorosulfonic acid:^[1]

5HOSO₂F + BaO₂Te(OH)₄ → HOTeF₅ + 4 H₂SO₄ + BaSO₄

It is also the first hydrolysis product of tellurium hexafluoride:

TeF₆ + H₂O → HOTeF₅ + HF

Teflates

The conjugate base of teflic acid is called the teflate anion, F₅TeO^- (not to be confused with triflate). Many teflates are known, examples being B(OTeF₅)₃ and the acid anhydride O(TeF₅)₂. Pyrolysis of the boron compound gives the dimer (TeF₄O)₂^[1]

2 B(OTeF₅)₃ → 2 B(OTeF₅)₂F + (OTeF₄)₂

The teflate anion is known to resist oxidation. This property has allowed the preparation several highly unusual species such as the hexateflates M(OTeF₅)₆^- (M = As, Sb, Bi). Xenon forms the cation Xe(OTeF₅)⁺,^[2]

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. "Inorganic Chemistry" Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
2. ↑ Mercier, H. P.A.; Sanders, J. C. P.; Schrobilgen, G. J. "The Hexakis(pentafluorooxotellurato)pnictate(V) Anions, M(OTeF₅)₆^- (M = As, Sb, Bi): A Series of Very Weakly Coordinating Anions" Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 116, 2921, (1994). doi:10.1021/ja00086a025.

Further reading

• R.B. King; Inorganic Chemistry of Main Group Elements, VCH Publishers, New York,1994.