Orthocarbonic acid
Encyclopedia
Orthocarbonic acid or methanetetraol is the name given to a hypothetical compound with the chemical formula
H4CO4 or C(OH)4. Its molecular structure consists of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydroxyl
groups. It would be therefore a fourfold alcohol
. In theory it could lose four protons to give the hypothetical oxocarbon anion
CO44− (orthocarbonate), and is therefore considered an oxoacid
of carbon.
The compound is believed to be highly unstable, decomposing spontaneously into carbonic acid
monohydrate.
Orthocarbonic acid is one of the group of carboxylic
ortho acid
s that have the general structure of RC(OH)3.The term ortho acid is also used to refer to the most hydroxylated acid in a set of oxoacid
s.
As of 2002, salts of these anions had yet to be observed. However, theoretical studies suggest that Na4CO4 might be stable
moiety CO4 is found in stable organic compounds; they are formally ester
s of orthocarbonic acid, and therefore are called orthocarbonates. For example, ethyl orthocarbonate can be prepared by the reaction between chloropicrin
and sodium ethoxide
in ethanol. Polyorthocarbonates are stable polymer
s that might have applications in absorbing organic solvents in waste treatment processes, or in dental restorative materials.
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
H4CO4 or C(OH)4. Its molecular structure consists of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydroxyl
Hydroxyl
A hydroxyl is a chemical group containing an oxygen atom covalently bonded with a hydrogen atom. In inorganic chemistry, the hydroxyl group is known as the hydroxide ion, and scientists and reference works generally use these different terms though they refer to the same chemical structure in...
groups. It would be therefore a fourfold alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. In theory it could lose four protons to give the hypothetical oxocarbon anion
Oxocarbon anion
In chemistry, an oxocarbon anion is a negative ion consisting solely of carbon and oxygen atoms, and therefore having the general formula CxOyn− for some integers x, y, and n....
CO44− (orthocarbonate), and is therefore considered an oxoacid
Oxoacid
An oxoacid is an acid that contains oxygen. To be more specific, it is an acid that:#contains oxygen#contains at least one other element#has at least one hydrogen atom bound to oxygen#forms an ion by the loss of one or more protons....
of carbon.
The compound is believed to be highly unstable, decomposing spontaneously into carbonic acid
Carbonic acid
Carbonic acid is the inorganic compound with the formula H2CO3 . It is also a name sometimes given to solutions of carbon dioxide in water, because such solutions contain small amounts of H2CO3. Carbonic acid forms two kinds of salts, the carbonates and the bicarbonates...
monohydrate.
Orthocarbonic acid is one of the group of carboxylic
Carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of at least one carboxyl group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R-COOH, where R is some monovalent functional group...
ortho acid
Ortho acid
Ortho acids are the most hydroxylated acid in a set of oxoacids, such as orthophosphoric acid. In general, when an element can form several oxoacids, these are called ortho-, meta- or pyroacids, with the ortho acid being the most hydrated of the three.Some of these compounds are unstable, such as...
s that have the general structure of RC(OH)3.The term ortho acid is also used to refer to the most hydroxylated acid in a set of oxoacid
Oxoacid
An oxoacid is an acid that contains oxygen. To be more specific, it is an acid that:#contains oxygen#contains at least one other element#has at least one hydrogen atom bound to oxygen#forms an ion by the loss of one or more protons....
s.
Orthocarbonate anions
By loss of one through 4 protons, orthocarbonic acid could yield four anions: H3CO4−, H2CO42−, HCO43−, and CO44−.As of 2002, salts of these anions had yet to be observed. However, theoretical studies suggest that Na4CO4 might be stable
Orthocarbonate esters
The tetravalentValence (chemistry)
In chemistry, valence, also known as valency or valence number, is a measure of the number of bonds formed by an atom of a given element. "Valence" can be defined as the number of valence bonds...
moiety CO4 is found in stable organic compounds; they are formally ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
s of orthocarbonic acid, and therefore are called orthocarbonates. For example, ethyl orthocarbonate can be prepared by the reaction between chloropicrin
Chloropicrin
Chloropicrin, also known as PS, is a chemical compound with the structural formula Cl3CNO2. This colourless highly toxic liquid was once used in chemical warfare and is currently used as a fumigant and nematocide.-History:...
and sodium ethoxide
Sodium ethoxide
Sodium ethoxide is an alkoxide salt with the chemical formula C2H5ONa.-Preparation:It is commercially available as a white solid, or as a solution in ethanol. It is easily prepared in the laboratory by reacting sodium metal with ethanol:...
in ethanol. Polyorthocarbonates are stable polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s that might have applications in absorbing organic solvents in waste treatment processes, or in dental restorative materials.