What is the most powerful acid known?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheoryMan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Acid
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the most powerful acid known, exploring various candidates and their properties. Participants examine both theoretical and practical aspects of acidity, including corrosiveness and proton availability.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that perchloric and permanganic acids have the largest first acid constant, while others mention "exotic" acids involving metals that may exhibit similar characteristics.
  • One participant questions whether anti-fluoric acid is more potent than sulfuric acid, expressing uncertainty about its properties.
  • Another participant identifies hexafluoroantimonic acid (HSbF6) as potentially the most powerful acid, suggesting it is stronger than sulfuric acid.
  • There is a discussion about the distinction between corrosiveness and acidity, with one participant noting that HF is less acidic than HCl despite being highly corrosive.
  • Concerns are raised about the stability of molecules when considering the most dangerous or corrosive acids, specifically in relation to concentrated sulfuric acid.
  • One participant mentions that nitric acid may be more reactive than sulfuric acid due to its properties as an oxidizer.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on which acid is the most powerful, with no consensus reached. Multiple competing models and opinions remain regarding the definitions of strength and corrosiveness.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of measuring acid strength, noting that factors such as proton availability and molecular stability influence their assessments. There are unresolved aspects regarding the definitions and comparisons of various acids.

TheoryMan
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
What is the most powerful acid known? :bugeye:
:devil:
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
"Normally" the perchloric & the permanganic ones have the largest first acid constant.However,IIRC there are some "exotic" ones (involving metals in complex combinations) which would have at least the same characteristics.

Do a google search.I'm sure u'll find out something valid.

Daniel.

EDIT:(personal remark) I would be really amazed,if someone proved me that the sulphuric one is not the most corrosive,ergo the most dangerous...
 
Last edited:
Isnt anti-flouric acid more potent than sulfuric acid?

Im not too sure, But i remember reading this somewhere though...
 
What's "anti-fluoric"...?:bugeye:

Daniel.

P.S.Which means:"what's the formula...?"
 
I thought that HSbF6 was the most powerful, but I might be wrong. It's certainly stronger than sulfuric acid.

Perhaps this is the "anti-flouric acid" referred to above? The correct name is hexafluoroantimonic acid.
 
I remember about that acid...:approve: :smile: But i still would not believe it burns literally everything...

Daniel.
 
A measure of the strength of an acid is not just how corrosive it is, but the availability of the proton associated with it. HF will eat away glass in short order, but in terms of acidity, it is far less acidic than HCl.
 
I was referring to corrosive acids.U missunderstood me.I'm still waiting for an answer (not necessarily from u) to the question i posted...Is there any more dangerous/corrosive acid than the highly concentrated sulphuric acid...?I mean with a stable molecule...

Daniel.
 
  • #10
Technically, a proton accelerated using a particle accelerator.
 
  • #11
dextercioby said:
I was referring to corrosive acids.U missunderstood me.I'm still waiting for an answer (not necessarily from u) to the question i posted...Is there any more dangerous/corrosive acid than the highly concentrated sulphuric acid...?I mean with a stable molecule...

Ever seen Alien? :wink:
 
  • #12
All parts,though the thing you're implying is in the first.Those stuffs were faked big time.I still trust [itex]H_{2}SO_{4}[/itex] to be the "burning king"...

Daniel.
 
  • #13
HF is almost certainly more toxic than H2SO4 though, but it's not because of the acidity, it's because of the F-. Also, nitric acid is in some ways more reactive because it is a better oxidizer than sulfuric.

I'm just saying that it's not as simple as saying "this compound is acidic, so it's will cause nasty burns."
 
  • #14
Check out:
http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/feature_ent.html?DOC=enthusiasts%5Cent_superacid.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Very confused about Naunyn definition of acid and base
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Diamond vs. Acids at room temperature
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
Mnemonic for Lewis acids and bases
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
Solubility of Salicylic Acid: Acid vs Base Form
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Can you make pure water acidic by adding free protons to it?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Reaction between hydrogen halide and sulfuric acid
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
What glass is best at resisting acids when dissolving?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Oligomerisation of L-Lactic acid to Prepolymer
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Magnesium bisglycinate + citric acid = ?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Lipid Formation: Fatty Acids, Glycerol, and Sphingosine
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K