Perchloric acid

Perchloric acid is a mineral acid with formula HClO₄, formed from hydrogen and chlorine in its +7 oxidation state. Its aqueous solutions are strong acids, while concentrated material can be a powerful oxidizer.

Acid dissociation constant: A quantitative measure of how readily an acid transfers a proton to a solvent or base. Perchloric acid is effectively fully dissociated in dilute water.
Analytical chemistry: The branch of chemistry that identifies substances and measures their amounts. Perchloric acid is used in some procedures to digest samples before measurement.
Hydrochloric acid: An aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, a strong acid without oxygen in its formula. It is also a strong mineral acid, but chlorine is in oxidation state −1.
Chemical safety: Practices and systems that reduce harm from chemicals during storage, use, transport, and disposal. Perchloric acid requires controls matched to concentration, temperature, and contact materials.
Conjugate base: The species formed when an acid donates a proton. Loss of a proton from HClO₄ produces the perchlorate ion.
Wet digestion: A sample-preparation method that uses liquid reagents to break down a material for analysis. Perchloric acid can mineralize organic samples for elemental analysis.
Chloric acid: The chlorine oxyacid HClO₃, in which chlorine has oxidation state +5. It is a related oxyacid with one fewer oxygen and a lower chlorine oxidation state.
Oxidizer: A substance that can promote oxidation by accepting electrons or supplying oxygen. Concentrated perchloric acid can react violently with organic or reducing materials.
Perchlorate: The polyatomic anion ClO₄⁻, containing chlorine bonded to four oxygen atoms. This resonance-stabilized ion is the conjugate base of perchloric acid.
Titration: A quantitative method that determines a solution's concentration by reacting it with a measured reagent. Standardized perchloric acid solutions serve as titrants in nonaqueous analysis.

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