Acids and Alkalis
Abstract
Acids are proton donors, sources of (hydrated) hydrogen (H + ) ions in aqueous media. Bases are proton acceptors, whilst soluble bases are sources of hydroxide (OH − ) ions. Bases neutralise acids. A “superacid” is an acid with an acidity greater than that of 100% pure sulfuric acid, which donates protons to substances that don’t accept them from the traditional “strong acids”, such as alkanes and carbon dioxide. Some are single-compound “superacids”, others are produced by mixing a proton-donor source with a Lewis acid, an electron-pair acceptor. Correspondingly, “superbases” exist.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Organic and Inorganic Chemical Reactions
Chemical Reaction Mechanisms
Various Chemistry Research Topics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 38–52
- Publication date
- 31 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter