The acidity functions of trifluoroethanol and hexafluoroisopropanol,and their mixtures with water

Acidity measurements in trifluoroethanol and hexafluoroisopropanol as solvents, and in their mixtures with water, are reported. The hydrogen electrode and the glass electrode were used for pH measurements. The “experimental” autoprotolysis constants were determined from measurements in strongly acidic (trifluoromethanesulfonic) media and in strongly basic (alcoholate) media: for trifluoroethanol, pK = -log K/mol² l^-2 = 15 and for hexafluoroisopropanol, pK = 14.8. Evaluation of the pH-indicator potential systems with reference to the ferrocene/ferricinium couple gives the acidity function R₀(H). The values obtained are compared to the H₀ values evaluated in the same conditions.