Proton affinity of SO3

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the radical cation H₂SO₄⁺ gives the product pairs H₂O⁺+SO₃ and HO+HSO₃⁺ with a 1:3 ratio that is essentially independent of collision energy. Statistical analysis of the two channels indicates that the proton affinity of HO is 3±4 kJ/mol lower than that of SO₃. This can be used to derive PA(SO₃)=591±4 kJ/mol at 0 K and 596±4 kJ/mol at 298 K. Previously, Munson and Smith bracketed the proton affinity as PA(HBr)=584 kJ/mol<PA(SO₃)<PA(CO)=594 kJ/mol. The threshold of 152±16 kJ/mol for formation of H₂O⁺+SO₃ indicates that the barrier to CID is small or nonexistent, in contrast to the substantial barriers to decomposition for H₃SO₄⁺ and H₂SO₄.