What is oxygen's acidity?

Answer 1

The reactivity of 2,2-dimethyl-5-methoxyindan-1-ol (1) and 2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxytetral-1-ol (2) radical cations has been studied both in acidic and basic solution. At pH≤4 both 1+ and 2+ undergo Cα---H deprotonation as the exclusive reaction with k=4.6×104 and 3.2×104 s−1, respectively. In basic solution 1+ and 2+ behave as oxygen acids undergoing −OH-induced α---OH deprotonation in a diffusion controlled process (k−OH≈1010M−1 s−1). An intermediate alkoxyl radical is formed which undergoes a 1,2-hydrogen atom shift in competition with C---C β-scission (with 1+) or as the exclusive pathway (with 2+). A behavior which is interpreted in terms of the greater ease of ring-opening of a five membered ring as compared to a six-membered one.

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Answer 2

Oxygen itself does not exhibit acidity because it does not release hydrogen ions in solution. However, when oxygen reacts with water, it can form acidic compounds such as carbonic acid (H2CO3) and nitric acid (HNO3) through various chemical processes.