| Abstract: | The use of multiple overlapping gaseous ion–molecule equilibrium measurements to construct thermochemical ladders is reviewed. The types of relative thermochemical data, which may be obtained, are summarized and the types of measurements required to convert the relative equilibrium affinity scales to absolute thermochemical quantities are discussed. The important thermochemical scales produced include proton affinities, gas phase acidities, ionization energies, electron affinities, carbocation stabilities, hydrogen bond energies, Lewis acidities, and metal cation affinities. |
