Abstract
Using the flowing afterglow/Langmuir probe (FALP) technique, we have determined (at variously 300 and 570 K) the dissociative attachment coefficients β for the reactions of electrons with the common acids HNO3 (producing NO−2) and H2SO4 (HSO−4), the superacids FSO3H (FSO−3), CF3SO3H (CF3SO−3), ClSO3H (ClSO−3,Cl−), the acid anhydride (CF3SO2)2O (CF3SO−3), and the halogen halides HBr (Br−) and HI (I−). The anions formed in the reactions are those given in the parentheses. The reactions with HF and HCl were investigated, but did not occur at a measurable rate since they are very endothermic. Dissociative attachment is rapid for the common acids, the superacids, and the anhydride, the measured β being appreciable fractions of the theoretical maximum β for such reactions, βmax. The HI reaction is very fast ( β∼βmax) but the HBr reaction occurs much more slowly because it is significantly endothermic. The data indicate that the extreme acidity of the (Bronsted‐type) superacids has its equivalence in the very efficient gas‐phase dissociative attachment which these species undergo when reacting with free electrons. The anions of the superacids generated in these reactions, notably FSO−3 and CF3SO−3, are very stable (unreactive) implying exceptionally large electron affinities for the FSO3 and CF3SO3 radicals.