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 these examples. For instance, carbon monoxide acts as a Lewis base when it forms an adduct with boron trifluoride, of formula FB←CO. Adducts involving metal ions are referred to as co-ordination compounds; each ligand donates a pair of electrons to the metal ion. The reaction can be seen as an acid–base reaction in which a stronger base (ammonia) replaces a weaker one (water) The Lewis and Brønsted–Lowry definitions are consistent with each other since the reaction is an acid–base reaction in both theories. One of the limitations of the Arrhenius definition is its reliance on water solutions. Edward Curtis Franklin