In chemistry, a superbase is an extremely strong base. There is no commonly accepted (see superacid standard for "stronger than what?") although most chemists will happily consider sodium hydroxide as their 'benchmark' base just as they use sulfuric acid as their 'benchmark' acid. Chemistry (from Greek χημεία khemeia meaning alchemy, see below for possible origins of this word) is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms (such as molecules, crystals, and metals). ... A bases in chemistry is a chemical substance which has a free pair of electrons to bind a Hydrogen ion commonly referred to as a proton (IUPAC definition). ... A superacid is an acid with an acidity greater than that of 100% sulfuric acid. ... Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye or caustic soda, is a caustic metallic base. ... Sulfuric acid (British English: sulphuric acid), H2SO4, is a strong mineral acid. ...

There are three main classes of superbases: organic, organometallic, and inorganic. Benzene An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon, with the exception of carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon. ... Organometallic have classically been compounds having bonds between one or more metal atoms and one or more carbon atoms of an organyl group. ... Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds. ...

An organic superbase is 1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (Proton-sponge^TM). 1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene was discovered in 1968 by Roger Alder at the University of Bristol. ...

In organic synthesis, the Lochmann-Schlosser base, i.e. the combination of n-butyllithium and potassium tert-butoxide, is commonly referred to as a superbase. In this combination of reagents the tertiary alcoholate serves to complex the lithium ion, thus freeing the carbanion from its close association with the metal ion. Other such systems are collectively called harpoon bases. An organolithium reagent is a carbon nucleophile similar to a Grignard reagent. ... An alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol, and therefore has an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lithium, Li, 3 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 2, s Appearance silvery white/grey Atomic mass 6. ... A harpoon base is an organic base that is a very strong base but at the same time a poor nucleophile. ...

Inorganic superbases are typically salts with highly charged, small negative ions, e.g. lithium nitride, which has extreme negative charge density and so is highly attracted to the aqueous hydronium ion. Lithium nitride is a compound of lithium and nitrogen with the formula Li3N. It is the only stable alkali metal nitride. ... In chemistry, hydronium is the common name for the cation H3O+. // Nomenclature According to IUPAC ion nomenclature, it should be referred to as oxonium. ...

See also

• Superacid