Getzler Lab at KenyonCollege3d ago
Just looked up the pKa of triflic acid and I had forgotten how insane it is (-14.7!!!) and would not have estimated that low based on sulfuric acid having a pKa of -2.8. Like, acetic to trilfluoroacetic only drops by 4.2 pKa unit. Holy hell is that a strong acid!
#chemistry #pKa #acid #acidity #mindblown
Show threadAndy Napper

@GetzlerChem That's crazy acidic! I'm wondering how many molecules are going to be unionized in a swimming pool full of that stuff?

I remember hearing about how "magic acid” was discovered by George Olah's group after seeing a wax candle from a cake dissolve in it after a party :)

Did you have fun at ACS? Would love to go one of these years!

Mar 29 at 11:26pmWeb
Show threadGetzler Lab at KenyonCollege2d ago

@QuantumDot2 oooh! Or what volume you have to have before one molecule is, on average, unionized.

ACS was mixed. Had a delightful dinner with the wonderful @patricklutz . The symposium I was in (polymer folks at PUIs) was great. So rewarding to see some folks I’ve mentored over the years thriving in their careers and feeling like I’d given them even a little bit of help. The return travel was aawful and if I’d known it would be like that I’d probably have skipped it.