Triflic acid acid and its conjugate base CFSO, known as triflate, resist oxidation/reduction reactions, whereas many strong acids are oxidizing, e.g. perchloric or nitric acid. Further recommending its use, triflic acid does not sulfonate substrates, which can be a problem with sulfuric acid, fluorosulfuric acid, and chlorosulfonic acid. Below is a prototypical sulfonation, which HOTf does "not" undergo: Triflic acid fumes in moist air and forms a stable solid monohydrate, CFSOH·HO, melting point 34 °C. The triflate ligand is labile, reflecting its low basicity. Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid exothermically reacts with metal carbonates, hydroxides, and oxides. Illustrative is the synthesis of Cu(OTf). Chloride ligands
Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory to become its conjugate base, A. The base, B, can accept a proton to become its conjugate acid, HB. Most acid-base reactions are fast so that the components of the reaction are usually in dynamic equilibrium with each other. Consider the following acid–base reaction: Acetic acid, CHCOOH, is an acid because it donates a proton to water (HO) and becomes its conjugate base, the acetate ion (CHCOO). HO is a base because it accepts a proton from CHCOOH and becomes its conjugate acid, the hydronium ion, (HO). The reverse of an acid-base reaction is also an acid-base reaction, between the