What is acid?
An acid is a chemical species that is capable of donating a proton or hydrogen ion in aqueous solution. When an acid is placed in an aqueous solution like water, it dissociates itself,
e.g- CH3COOH + H2O-->CH3COO + H3O+
Strength of an acid:-
The strength of an acid is determined by the capacity of acid to dissociate into the aqueous solution, more the dissociation stronger the acid. Acid strength is generally measured in pKa; for water-based solutions, pH scale is also used, in which acidity or basicity of a substance can be determined.
Lower the pH stronger the acid, the higher the pH weaker the acid.
Acids that we come across in day to day life like acetic acid {Vinegar} and citric acid in lemon have pH's of 3.7 and 3.8 respectively, Sulfuric acid used in car batteries has a pH of 2.7 which makes it extremely strong, and it is highly corrosive too.
When pH is dropped by one unit the strength of an acid is increased by ten times, so if there are three acids with ph 5,4,3 respectively than the acid with ph four will be ten times stronger than acid of ph 4, and acid with a ph of 3 will be 100 times stronger than acid with ph 5.
Now because Superacids are notoriously reliable and pH scale cannot be less than zero, so for measurement of the acidity of superacids, 'Hammet Acidity Function' is used.
Superacids:-
Superacids are the acids with pH less than that of 100% pure sulfuric acid, technically any acid which is more robust than pure sulfuric acid is called superacid.
Some common superacids are Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid{Triflic acid} and Fluorosulfuric acid, both of which are over 1000-10,000 times stronger than sulfuric acid have Hammett acidity function of -14 to -15.
Carborane Superacids have Hammett acidity function of -18 and are over a million times stronger than pure sulfuric acid.
Magic acid is considered to be the second most potent acid in the world, which has a hammer acidity function of -19.1 and is approximately 19 million times stronger than 100% pure sulfuric acid.
Fluoroantimonic acid:-
Fluoroantimonic acid [HSbF6] is unarguably the most potent acid in the world, and it is made by mixing antimony pentafluoride [SbF5] and hydrogen fluoride [HF] in 1:1 ratio.
Fluoroantimonic acid is 20 quintillion [2×10^20] times stronger than 100% pure sulfuric acid.
Properties:-
1]HSbF6 is highly corrosive with a Hammett acidity function of -24.
2]It is very poisonous because of the presence of HF in it; it is lethal if inhaled.
3]It eats through metal, plastic, wood, glass, organic matter, and nearly everything which it comes in contact with.
4]It reacts explosively with water.
Storage:-
The only thing which can safely store Fluoroantimonic acid is [PTFE]Teflon, yes the same Teflon that makes up no-stick pans, the strong fluorine bonds make Teflon extremely inert and hence resistant to monstrous chemicals.
Use of fluoroantimonic acid:-
There is very little use known yet; because of its high level of acidity and toxicity, no one likes to experiment with this Alien acid. Still, it is used for protonation of hydrocarbons like neoprene to give H2.
What happens if this Alien acid spills on the human body?
What happens if you spill it on your hand, well HSbF6 will eat through body flesh within a second and eats through the bones as they mainly consist of calcium, so the moment you spill it on your hand, consider it to become invisible.
Conclusion:-
Stay away from the superacids and acids if you ever come across, never try to purchase or experiment with superacids as they can make you disappear.
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