Teflic acid is a chemical compound with the formula . This strong acid is related to orthotelluric acid, . Teflic acid has a slightly distorted octahedral molecular geometry.
Teflic acid was accidentally discovered by Engelbrecht and Sladky. Their synthesis did not yield the anticipated telluryl fluoride , but a mixture of volatile telluric compounds, containing :
Teflic acid can also be prepared from fluorosulfonic acid and barium tellurate:
It is also the first hydrolysis product of tellurium hexafluoride:
The conjugate base of teflic acid is called the teflate anion, (not to be confused with triflate). Many teflates are known, one example being , that can be pyrolysed to give acid anhydride .
The teflate anion is known to resist oxidation. This property has allowed the preparation several highly unusual species such as the hexateflates (in which M = As, Sb, Bi). Xenon forms the cation .