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
Acid–base reaction HA represents the acid, B represents the base, BH represents the conjugate acid of B, and A represents the conjugate base of HA. For example, a Brønsted-Lowry model for the dissociation of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in aqueous solution would be the following: The removal of H from the HCl produces the chloride ion, Cl, the conjugate base of the acid. The addition of H to the HO (acting as a base) forms the hydronium ion, HO, the conjugate acid of the base. Water is amphoteric—that is, it can act as both an acid and a base. The Brønsted-Lowry model explains