| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
An acid such as sulfuric acid is known as a protic acid. That is, it is acidic because it dissociates essentially completely into protons and a supporting anion. This means that in terms of the Lowry-Bronsted definition of an acid, sulfuric acid is a strong acid. However, in a stricter more rigorous definition of an acid, sulphuric acid is an acid because it accepts electrons. There are far more efficient electron acceptors around than sulphuric acid. Antimony pentafluoride for example is an extremely good electron acceptor. When it is mixed with fluorosulfuric acid (HSO3F) a so-called superacid is formed which will accept an electron from anything, and is even said to dissolve candle wax.
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