Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
The structure of the H3O+ hydronium ion in benzene
Evgenii S Stoyanov1, Stephan P Hoffmann, Kee-Chan Kim
1Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Prospekt Lavrentieva, 5, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
Abstract:
Infrared, X-ray structural, 1H NMR, and computational evidence for pi-solvation of H3O+ by benzene molecules is presented. A salt with a discrete [H3O.3benzene]+ cation can be isolated using a very weakly interacting carborane counterion, CHB11Cl11-. pi-Arene solvation of H3O+ explains the solubility of this salt in benzene solution. Similar results are indicated for the "Zundel-type" H5O2+ ion. These findings suggest structures for the active protonating species when strong acids are used as catalysts in arene solvents containing trace water. They are also relevant to structures that may be present in biological proton transport.
More Related Videos
10:28Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
07:45Technical Approach for Structural Analysis of an Unknown Compound in Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid based on Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 3, 2026
Related Concept Videos
Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer
Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions
Molecular Shape and Polarity
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I
Acid Strength and Molecular Structure
In the absence of any leveling effect, the acid strength of binary compounds of hydrogen with nonmetals (A) increases as the H-A bond strength decreases down a group in the periodic table. For group 17, the order of increasing acidity is HF < HCl < HBr < HI. Likewise, for group 16, the order of increasing acid strength is H2O < H2S < H2Se < H2Te. Across a row in the periodic table, the acid strength of binary hydrogen compounds increases with increasing...
Structure of Amines