More than one generation of chemists argued about which acid is the strongest. AT different times this title was given to nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric acid. Some believed that the compound could not be stronger than hydrofluoric acid. AT recent times new compounds with strong acid properties have been obtained. Perhaps it is among them that there is the most strong acid in the world? This article reviews the characteristics of the strongest persistent acids of our time and gives their brief chemical characteristics.

The concept of acid

Chemistry is an exact quantitative science. And the title "The Strongest Acid" should be reasonably attributed to one or another substance. What can be the main indicator that characterizes the strength of any connection?

First, let's recall the classic definition of an acid. Basically, this word is used for complex chemical compounds that consist of hydrogen and an acid residue. The number of hydrogen atoms in the compound depends on the valency of the acid residue. For example, in a molecule of hydrochloric acid there is only one hydrogen atom; and sulfuric acid already owns two H + atoms.

Acid properties

All acids have some chemical properties, which can be called common for this class of chemical compounds.

In all the above properties, another “skill” of any known acid is manifested - this is the ability to donate a hydrogen atom, replacing it with an atom of another chemical substance or a molecule of any compound. It is this ability that characterizes the "strength" of the acid and the degree of its interaction with the rest. chemical elements.

Water and acid

The presence of water significantly reduces the ability of an acid to donate hydrogen atoms. This is because hydrogen is able to form its own chemical bonds between acid and water molecules, thus its ability to separate from the base is less than that of undiluted acids.

Superacid

The word "superacid" is introduced in chemical dictionary in 1927, with the light hand of the famous chemist James Conant.

The standard for the strength of this chemical compound is concentrated sulphuric acid. A chemical or any mixture that exceeds the acidity of concentrated sulfuric acid is called a superacid. The value of a superacid is determined by its ability to impart a positive electrical charge to any base. The corresponding indicator H 2 SO 4 was taken as the basic parameter for determining acidity. Among the strong acids there are substances with rather unusual names and properties.

Known strong acids

The most famous acids from the course of inorganic chemistry are hydroiodic (HI), hydrobromic (HBr), hydrochloric (HCl), sulfuric (H 2 SO 4) and nitric (HNO 3) acids. All of them have a high acidity index and are able to react with most metals and bases. In this series, the strongest acid is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid, called "royal vodka". The formula of the strongest acid in this series is HNO 3 + 3 HCl. This compound is capable of dissolving even precious metals such as gold and platinum.

Oddly enough, hydrofluoric acid, which is a hydrogen compound with the strongest halogen - fluorine, did not get into the contenders for the title of "The Strongest Acid in Chemistry". The only feature of this substance is the ability to dissolve glass. Therefore, such acid is stored in polyethylene containers.

Strong organic acids

Contenders for the title "The strongest acid in organic chemistry» - ant and acetic acid. Formic acid is the strongest in the homologous series of saturated acids. It got its name due to the fact that some of it is contained in the secretions of ants.

Acetic acid is slightly weaker than formic acid, but its distribution spectrum is much wider. It is often found in plant juices and is formed during the oxidation of various organics.

Recent developments in the field of chemistry have made it possible to synthesize a new substance that can compete with traditional organic matter. Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid has an acidity index higher than that of sulfuric acid. At the same time, CF3SO3H is a stable hygroscopic liquid with established physicochemical properties under normal conditions. To date, the title "The Strongest Organic Acid" can be assigned to this compound.

Many may think that the degree of acidity cannot be much higher than that of sulfuric acid. But recently, scientists have synthesized a number of substances whose acidity parameters are several thousand times higher than those of sulfuric acid. Abnormally high values ​​of acidity have compounds obtained by the interaction of protic acids with Lewis acids. AT scientific world they are called: complex protic acids.

Magic acid

Yes. Everything is correct. Magic acid. That's what it's called. Magic acid is a mixture of hydrogen fluoride or fluorosulfonic acid with antimony pentafloride. The chemical formula of this compound is shown in the figure:

This strange name was given to magical acid at a chemists' Christmas party that took place in the early 1960s. One of the members of the research group of J. Olaha showed a funny trick by dissolving a wax candle in this amazing liquid. This is one of the strongest acids of the new generation, but a substance that will surpass it in strength and acidity has already been synthesized.

The strongest acid in the world

Carborane acid - carborane acid, which is by far the most powerful compound in the world. The formula of the strongest acid looks like this: H (CHB11Cl11).

This monster was created in 2005 at the University of California in close collaboration with Novosibirsk Institute catalysis SB RAS.

The very idea of ​​synthesis arose in the minds of scientists along with the dream of new, hitherto unseen molecules and atoms. The new acid is a million times stronger than sulfuric acid, but it is completely non-corrosive, and the strongest acid can easily be stored in a glass bottle. True, over time, the glass still dissolves, and with increasing temperature, the rate of such a reaction increases significantly.

This amazing softness is due to the high stability of the new compound. Like all acidic chemicals, carborane acid readily reacts by donating its single proton. In this case, the base of the acid is so stable that the chemical reaction does not proceed further.

Chemical properties of carborane acid

The new acid is an excellent H+ proton donor. This is what determines the strength of this substance. Carborane acid solution contains more hydrogen ions than any other acid in the world. AT chemical reaction SbF 5 - antimony pentafluoride, binds fluorine ion. This releases more and more hydrogen atoms. Therefore, carborane acid is the strongest in the world - a suspension of protons in its solution is 2 × 10 19 times greater than that of sulfuric acid.

However, the acid base of this compound is remarkably stable. The molecule of this substance consists of eleven bromine atoms and the same number of chlorine atoms. In space, these particles form a complex, geometrically regular figure, which is called an icosahedron. This arrangement of atoms is the most stable, and this explains the stability of carborane acid.

The meaning of carborane acid

The strongest acid in the world brought its creators well-deserved awards and recognition in the scientific world. Although all the properties of the new substance have not been fully understood, it is already becoming clear that the significance of this discovery goes beyond laboratories and research institutes. Carborane acid can be used as a powerful catalyst in various industrial reactions. In addition, the new acid can interact with the most stubborn chemicals - inert gases. Currently, work is underway to allow the possibility of xenon reacting.

Undoubtedly, the amazing properties of new acids will find their application in various fields of science and technology.

Many people are interested in what is the strongest acid in the world? There has always been a lot of controversy. The title of "the strongest acid" was given to various compounds. In modern chemistry, there are new products with more intense properties, but there are organic compounds dangerous to any living organism. What acids are in the human body?

Acid is complex chemical compound, which contains hydrogen atoms subject to substitution by metal atoms and an acid residue.

Similar products have different properties and depend on the composition. Acids are in good contact with metals, bases, and are able to change the color of indicators.

According to the presence of oxygen atoms in the compound, they are divided into oxygen and oxygen-free. In the presence of water, the acid "divides" hydrogen atoms to a lesser extent. This is due to the formation of its own hydrogen bond between the molecules of the compound and water, so it does not separate well from the base.

According to the number of hydrogen atoms, acids are divided into monobasic, dibasic and tribasic.

Types of acids (list)

Which connection is considered strong? There is no single answer to such a question. There are superacids that can destroy serious compounds.

Very rare, because it is produced artificially in closed laboratories. There is no exact information about this product, it has been proven that a solution at a concentration of fifty percent is a million times more dangerous than sulfuric acid (also not weak).

Carboranoic acid (the most dangerous)

The compound is considered the stronger of those products that can be stored in specific containers. This corrosive acid is stronger than sulfuric acid. The substance dissolves metals and glass. The compound was created by the joint efforts of scientists from the United States and Russia.

This acid is considered strong due to the easy separation of hydrogen atoms. The remaining ion has a negative charge and high stability, due to which it enters into a repeated reaction. The toxic substance is not a theory, it is used as a catalyst in reactions.

Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrogen fluoride is another strong compound. Available in the form of solutions with different concentrations. The product has no color, heat is released when interacting with water. Toxin destroys glass, metal, does not come into contact with paraffin.

Transported in polyethylene. Hydrofluoric acid is dangerous for humans, causes a narcotic state, circulatory disorders, and problems with the respiratory system. The compound can evaporate. Vapors also have toxic properties, can irritate mucous membranes and skin. It is rapidly absorbed through the epidermis and causes mutations.

One of the most common powerful acids. Such a poison is dangerous to humans. When it comes into contact with exposed skin, it causes charring, the appearance of serious wounds that require long-term treatment.

Poisoning is dangerous not only when the element enters the body, but also when the vapors are inhaled. Sulfuric acid is produced in several ways.

A liquid with a high concentration, when interacting with metal objects, oxidizes them, turns into sulfur dioxide.

Hydrochloric acid

A corrosive acid produced in small quantities in the human stomach. However, a compound obtained by chemical means is dangerous for a living organism. It causes severe burns on contact with the skin, and is very dangerous if it gets into the eyes.

It is possible to be poisoned by vapors of hydrochloric acid; when a container with a substance is opened, a toxic gas is formed that irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory organs.

Nitrogen

Refers to substances of the third hazard class. Vapors are harmful to the respiratory tract and lungs, are formed under the influence of elevated temperature. On the skin, the fluid provokes the development of long-healing wounds.

Nitric acid is used in processes, present in fertilizers. However, caution is required when working with it. It does not react with glass, therefore it is stored in it.

Strong organic acids in the world

There are dangerous acids not only of chemical, but also of organic origin. They also carry negative health effects.

Formic acid

Monobasic acid, colorless, soluble in acetone and miscible with water. It is dangerous at high concentrations, when it comes into contact with the skin, it corrodes tissues, leaves severe burns. In a state of gas, it acts on the mucous membranes of the eyes and Airways. If ingested, it provokes serious poisoning with adverse consequences.

Acetic

Dangerous compound used in everyday life. Good contact with water, which reduces its concentration. Causes severe burns if swallowed internal organs, vapors adversely affect the mucous membranes, irritating them. In high concentrations, it causes severe burns, up to tissue necrosis. Requires immediate hospitalization

hydrocyanic

Dangerous and poisonous substance. Present in the seeds of some berries. If inhaled in small amounts, it causes respiratory failure, headache and other unpleasant symptoms.

When ingested in large quantities, it leads to the rapid death of a person due to paralysis of the respiratory center. If poisoning with hydrocyanic acid salts occurs, the rapid administration of an antidote and delivery to a medical facility is required.

The title of one of the strongest and most aggressive acids in the world belongs to carborane. This compound came about through experiments by scientists with the goal of creating something sustainable.

It is stronger than chamois, but does not have the aggressiveness that it has. The composition of the compound includes eleven bromine atoms and the same number of chlorine atoms. In space, the molecule takes the form of a regular polyhedron - an icosahedron.

Due to this arrangement of atoms, the compound is highly stable.

Such an acid is capable of reacting with the most "stubborn" gases - inert ones. Scientists are trying to achieve a reaction with xenon. The strongest acid has brought success to many professors, but research continues.

How much acid can kill a person?

How much poisonous acid does it take to get poisoned or die? Strong acids react immediately, so in some cases a small drop or one breath is enough.

The amount of acid that can provoke poisoning depends on the age of the person, his physical condition, immune system, and the body's ability to resist harmful substances. In children, poisoning develops faster than in adults due to an accelerated metabolism. The exact dosage can be determined by a medical professional.

Acid poisoning symptoms

How does acid poisoning manifest itself? Depending on the type of compound, different symptoms may develop. However, all poisonings are characterized by the presence of the same manifestations.

Signs:

• Pain when swallowing, sore throat, esophagus, stomach. In case of serious poisoning, the development of pain shock is possible.
• Nausea, vomiting. The outgoing masses acquire a black tint due to bleeding in the stomach.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Severe diarrhea, black stools in the presence of bleeding in the intestines.
• Low pressure.
• Pale skin and mucous membranes, possibly blue upper layer of the epidermis.
• Strong headache.
• Decreased amount of urine.
• Violation of the respiratory process, breathing is frequent, intermittent.
• Loss of consciousness, falling into a coma.

If one of the signs appears, you must immediately call an ambulance team. The life and capacity of the victim depend on the quick reaction of the surrounding people.

Treatment for poisoning

Prior to the arrival of doctors, it is permissible to provide first aid to the victim. In case of poisoning, you can not do without qualified help, but some actions can alleviate the patient's condition.

What to do:

1. If gas became the cause of poisoning, then the patient is taken out or taken out to fresh air;
2. A person is placed on a horizontal surface, they provide him with complete rest;
3. It is forbidden to wash the stomach, this can lead to a second burn of the esophagus;
4. Ice is placed on the abdomen, such an action will help stop internal bleeding;
5. You can not give a person pills and drink, so as not to provoke negative consequences.

Irritation, a feeling of sand in the eyes, redness are only minor inconveniences with impaired vision. Scientists have proven that vision loss in 92% of cases ends in blindness.

Crystal Eyes is the best remedy for restoring vision at any age.

Further treatment is carried out in the intensive care unit. The doctor examines the patient, selects the appropriate drugs. The accompanying person must tell the doctor about the poisoning that has occurred and the actions taken.

Procedures:

• Gastric lavage using a probe;
• The introduction of medicinal and cleansing solutions using droppers;
• The use of oxygen inhalations;
• Treatment of a state of shock;

All drugs are selected by the doctor depending on the patient's condition and the degree of poisoning. Treatment is continued until the patient is fully recovered.

Consequences and prevention

Acid poisoning is often fatal. With timely treatment, a favorable prognosis is possible, but in many cases a person remains disabled. The action of all acids negatively affects the state of the digestive tract, the brain and nervous system suffer.

It is possible to avoid intoxication by taking care when working with acids. Toxic substances must not be left in places accessible to children and animals. When using toxic compounds, protective clothing is worn, eyes are hidden behind glasses, gloves are present on hands.

The most terrible and dangerous acid is not available to the average layman. However, in laboratories, it is important to be careful when using such substances. If you experience signs of poisoning, you need to immediately contact a medical facility.

Video: list of dangerous poisons

Man has always sought to find materials that leave no chance for their competitors. Since ancient times, scientists have been looking for the hardest materials in the world, the lightest and heaviest. The thirst for discovery led to the discovery of an ideal gas and an ideal black body. We present you the most amazing substances in the world.

1. The blackest substance

The blackest substance in the world is called Vantablack and consists of a collection of carbon nanotubes (see carbon and its allotropic modifications). Simply put, the material consists of countless "hairs", hitting which, the light bounces from one tube to another. In this way, about 99.965% of the light flux is absorbed and only a negligible part is reflected back to the outside.
The discovery of Vantablack opens up broad prospects for the use of this material in astronomy, electronics and optics.

2. The most combustible substance

Chlorine trifluoride is the most flammable substance ever known to mankind. It is the strongest oxidizing agent and reacts with almost all chemical elements. Chlorine trifluoride can burn through concrete and easily ignites glass! The use of chlorine trifluoride is almost impossible due to its phenomenal flammability and the inability to ensure the safety of use.

3. The most poisonous substance

The most powerful poison is botulinum toxin. We know it under the name Botox, that is how it is called in cosmetology, where it has found its main application. Botulinum toxin is Chemical substance produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. In addition to the fact that botulinum toxin is the most toxic substance, it also has the largest molecular weight among proteins. The phenomenal toxicity of the substance is evidenced by the fact that only 0.00002 mg min / l of botulinum toxin is enough to make the affected area deadly for humans for half a day.

4. The hottest substance

This is the so-called quark-gluon plasma. The substance was created using the collision of gold atoms at almost the speed of light. Quark-gluon plasma has a temperature of 4 trillion degrees Celsius. For comparison, this figure is 250,000 times higher than the temperature of the Sun! Unfortunately, the lifetime of a substance is limited to one trillionth of a trillionth of a second.

5. The most corrosive acid

Antimony fluoride H becomes the champion in this category. Antimony fluoride is 2×10 16 (two hundred quintillion) times more caustic than sulfuric acid. This is a very active substance that can explode when a small amount of water is added. The fumes of this acid are deadly poisonous.

6. The most explosive substance

The most explosive substance is heptanitrocuban. It is very expensive and is used only for scientific research. But a slightly less explosive HMX is successfully used in military affairs and in geology when drilling wells.

7. The most radioactive substance

Polonium-210 is an isotope of polonium that does not exist in nature, but is made by man. It is used to create miniature, but at the same time, very powerful energy sources. It has a very short half-life and is therefore capable of causing severe radiation sickness.

8. The heaviest substance

It is, of course, fullerite. Its hardness is almost 2 times higher than that of natural diamonds. You can read more about fullerite in our article The Hardest Materials in the World.

9. Strongest magnet

The world's strongest magnet is made up of iron and nitrogen. At present, details about this substance are not available to the general public, but it is already known that the new super-magnet is 18% more powerful than the strongest magnets currently in use - neodymium. Neodymium magnets are made from neodymium, iron and boron.

10. The most fluid substance

Superfluid Helium II has almost no viscosity at temperatures close to absolute zero. This property is due to its unique ability to seep and pour out of a vessel made of any solid material. Helium II has the potential to be used as an ideal thermal conductor in which heat does not dissipate.

"most extreme" option. Sure, we've all heard stories of magnets strong enough to injure kids from the inside and acids that will go through your hands in seconds, but there are even more "extreme" versions of them.

1. The blackest matter known to man

What happens if you put the edges of carbon nanotubes on top of each other and alternate layers of them? The result is a material that absorbs 99.9% of the light that hits it. The microscopic surface of the material is uneven and rough, which refracts light and is a poor reflective surface. After that, try to use carbon nanotubes as superconductors in a certain order, which makes them excellent light absorbers, and you have a real black storm. Scientists are seriously puzzled by the potential applications of this substance, since, in fact, light is not "lost", the substance could be used to improve optical devices, such as telescopes, and even be used for solar panels operating at almost 100% efficiency.

2. The most combustible substance

Lots of things burn at amazing rates, like styrofoam, napalm, and that's just the beginning. But what if there was a substance that could set fire to the earth? On the one hand, this is a provocative question, but it was asked as a starting point. Chlorine trifluoride has the dubious reputation of being terribly flammable, though the Nazis thought it was too dangerous to work with. When people who discuss genocide believe that the purpose of their life is not to use something because it is too lethal, this encourages careful handling of these substances. It is said that one day a ton of substance was spilled and a fire started, and 30.5 cm of concrete and a meter of sand and gravel burned out until everything subsided. Unfortunately, the Nazis were right.

3. The most poisonous substance

Tell me, what would you least like to get on your face? It could very well be the most deadly poison, which will rightfully take 3rd place among the main extreme substances. Such a poison is really different from what burns through concrete, and from the strongest acid in the world (which will be invented soon). Although not entirely true, but you all, no doubt, heard from the medical community about Botox, and thanks to it the most deadly poison became famous. Botox uses botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and it is very deadly, and the amount of a grain of salt is enough to kill a person weighing 200 pounds (90.72 kg; approx. mixednews). In fact, scientists have calculated that it is enough to spray only 4 kg of this substance to kill all people on earth. Probably, an eagle would have acted much more humanely with a rattlesnake than this poison with a person.

4. The hottest substance

There are very few things in the world known to man to be hotter than the inside of a newly microwaved Hot Pocket, but this stuff seems set to break that record as well. Created by the collision of gold atoms at almost the speed of light, matter is called quark-gluon "soup" and it reaches a crazy 4 trillion degrees Celsius, which is almost 250,000 times hotter than the stuff inside the Sun. The amount of energy released in the collision would be enough to melt protons and neutrons, which in itself has features that you did not even suspect. Scientists say this stuff could give us a glimpse of what the birth of our universe was like, so it's worth understanding that tiny supernovae aren't created for fun. However, the really good news is that the "soup" spanned one trillionth of a centimeter and lasted for a trillionth of one trillionth of a second.

5. The most corrosive acid

Acid is a terrible substance, one of the scariest monsters in cinema was given acid blood to make it even more terrible than just a killing machine ("Alien"), so it is ingrained inside us that exposure to acid is very bad. If the "aliens" were filled with fluoride-antimonial acid, not only would they sink deep through the floor, but the fumes emitted from their dead bodies would kill everything around them. This acid is 21019 times stronger than sulfuric acid and can seep through glass. And it can explode if you add water. And during its reaction, poisonous fumes are released that can kill anyone in the room.

6 Most Explosive Explosives

In fact, this place is currently divided by two components: octogen and heptanitrocuban. Heptanitrocuban mainly exists in laboratories, and is similar to HMX, but has a denser crystal structure, which carries a greater potential for destruction. HMX, on the other hand, exists in large enough quantities that it can threaten physical existence. It is used in solid propellants for rockets, and even for detonators. nuclear weapons. And the last one is the most terrifying, because despite how easily it happens in the movies, starting a fission/fusion reaction that results in bright, glowing mushroom-like nuclear clouds is not an easy task, but octogen does an excellent job of it.

7. The most radioactive substance

Speaking of radiation, it's worth mentioning that the glowing green "plutonium" rods shown in The Simpsons are just a fantasy. Just because something is radioactive doesn't mean it glows. It's worth mentioning because "polonium-210" is so radioactive that it glows blue. Former Soviet spy Alexander Litvinenko was misled when the substance was added to his food and died of cancer shortly thereafter. This is not something you want to joke about, the glow is caused by the air around the substance that is being affected by the radiation, and indeed the objects around it can get hot. When we say "radiation", we think, for example, of a nuclear reactor or an explosion, where the fission reaction actually takes place. This is only the release of ionized particles, and not out of control splitting of atoms.

8. The heaviest substance

If you thought that the heaviest substance on earth was diamonds, that was a good but inaccurate guess. This is a technically created diamond nanorod. This is actually a collection of nano-scale diamonds, with the lowest degree of compression and the heaviest substance, known to man. It doesn't really exist, but which would be nice, since it means that someday we could cover our cars with this stuff and just get rid of it when the train hits (an unrealistic event). This substance was invented in Germany in 2005 and will probably be used to the same extent as industrial diamonds, except for the fact that the new substance is more resistant to wear than ordinary diamonds.

9. The most magnetic substance

If the inductor were a small black piece, then this would be the same substance. The substance, developed in 2010 from iron and nitrogen, has magnetic abilities that are 18% greater than the previous "record holder" and is so powerful that it has forced scientists to rethink how magnetism works. The person who discovered this substance distanced himself from his studies so that none of the other scientists could reproduce his work, as it was reported that a similar compound was being developed in Japan in the past in 1996, but other physicists were unable to reproduce it, therefore officially this substance was not accepted. It is unclear whether Japanese physicists should promise to make Sepuku under these circumstances. If this substance can be reproduced, it could mean new Age efficient electronics and magnetic motors, possibly increased in power by an order of magnitude.

10. The strongest superfluidity

Superfluidity is a state of matter (like solid or gaseous) that occurs at extremely low temperatures, has high thermal conductivity (every ounce of this substance must be exactly the same temperature) and no viscosity. Helium-2 is the most characteristic representative. The helium-2 cup will spontaneously rise and spill out of the container. Helium-2 will also seep through other solid materials, as the total lack of friction allows it to flow through other invisible openings through which ordinary helium (or water for this case) could not flow. "Helium-2" does not come into its proper state at number 1, as if it has the ability to act on its own, although it is also the most efficient thermal conductor on Earth, several hundred times better than copper. Heat moves so fast through "helium-2" that it travels in waves, like sound (actually known as "second sound"), rather than being dissipated, it simply moves from one molecule to another. By the way, the forces that govern the ability of "helium-2" to crawl along the wall are called the "third sound". You are unlikely to have anything more extreme than the substance that required the definition of 2 new types of sound.

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October 25, 2013

Synthesis of acids

In such a science as chemistry, special attention is paid to the synthesis of those compounds that simply cannot be found in nature. Using the unique properties of such compounds, many unique problems can be solved.

When creating unique synthesized acids, the storage of these compounds and their stability can become a major problem. There are acids that dissolve glassware or those that have a lifetime of milliseconds, which will not allow you to make observations and take advantage of chemical properties, so the task of creating stable compounds is the most important.

Acid theories

There are two theories of acids in the world. The first is the Brønsted-Lowry theory, which promotes the protonic version of acids. Such compounds are capable of donating a proton during the reaction. The proton in such compounds is bonded to a base, which has the opposite charge. And the more protons (hydrogen ions) an acid can give away, the stronger it is considered. The proton, in order to balance its charge, has a very high activity and tries to capture an electron from other compounds into its orbit. This explains the high chemical activity of known mineral acids.

The second theory, which is called the Lewis theory, claims that acidic properties are also exhibited by those compounds that form during the reaction covalent bonds. Pairs of electrons of the reacting substances combine and become common to both atoms. According to this theory, not only protons have acidic properties, but also compounds that have activity in creating electron pairs. Thus, the Lewis theory significantly expanded the Bronsted-Lowry theory and many more compounds known to science were included in the class of acids.

Modern chemical synthesis has reached unprecedented heights. We owe him the appearance of kapron, nylon, dacron, lavsan, spandex, lycra. Modeling the desired properties of a synthesized substance on a computer, and then creating it, has no longer become a fantasy. Scientists and chemists are like children who assemble spatial figures from a constructor, and then study what they have created. Chemical synthesis allows you to create substances that cannot exist in nature, and therefore with unknown, interesting and useful properties.

Carboranoic acid

A group of scientists from the University of California together with scientists from the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch Russian Academy Sciences, set itself the task of synthesizing a strong acid, which would not yet be aggressive to surrounding materials. This, at first glance, an impossible task, was solved. The created compound, according to scientists, is a million times stronger than high concentration sulfuric acid and is inert to glass vessels. Any compound whose acidity exceeds that of 100% sulfuric acid is already commonly referred to as superacids. Then what can you call a compound that is a million times stronger?

The studies carried out allow us to assert that carborane acid (namely, this is how it was given the name) is the strongest acid of the currently studied.

This compound has the chemical formula H(CHB11Cl11) gives the solution much more hydrogen ions (protons) than all the others, and the remaining base has amazing inertness. This group contains 11 boron atoms, 11 chlorine atoms and a carbon atom - which are linked in a spatial structure in the form of an icosahedron. It is known that figures with the structure of the Platonic solids (namely, this is the icosahedron) have very high strength. And just so effective. spatial organization base allows it to exhibit chemical inertness.

Practical value

Carborane acid, in addition to the scientific value of its discovery and synthesis, can also be of considerable practical value. With the help of this unique compound, it is planned to synthesize organic "acidic" molecules that are formed in the human body for a very short time during the digestion of food and therefore little studied. Such a stable structure of the base gives scientists the right to assume the use of this acid in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries as a catalyst.

It does not give rest to scientists chemists all over the world to create a combination of hydrogen with inert gases, which are always "reluctantly" combined with other elements of the Periodic Table. Currently, only compounds of xenon with the strongest oxidizing agent, fluorine, are known. Who knows, maybe they will succeed with this daring idea with the help of carborane acid.

The chemical synthesis of carborane acid is, of course, a major achievement of Russian and American scientists. This strong acid is subject to study and, for sure, will find application in the creation of new "outlandish" substances.