Suitable solvents for carrying out reactions utilizing this superacid mixture include liquid SO 2 , SO 2 FCl,
and SO 2 F 2 . This superacid will also protonate hydrocarbons to form carbocations, but is a weaker acid
than H 2 SO 3 F . In one interesting reaction, carbonic acid is converted into C(OH) 3 which is isoelectronic
with boric acid, B(OH) 3 . Superacids are such strong proton donors that they will protonate
many substances that are not normally bases. These include such species as hydrocarbons, ketones,
organic acids, and many others. The chemistry of superacids makes possible many reactions that could
not be carried out in any other way. As mentioned earlier, this is one of the aspects of nonaqueous solvents
that makes that type of chemistry indispensable.