Reactions with alkanes Magic acid is capable of protonating alkanes. For instance, methane reacts to form the ion at 140 °C and atmospheric pressure, though some hydrocarbon ions of greater molecular weights are also formed as byproducts. Hydrogen gas is another reaction byproduct. In the presence of FSO3D rather than FSO3H, methane has been shown to interchange hydrogen atoms for deuterium atoms, and HD is released rather than H2. This is evidence to suggest that in these reactions, methane is indeed a base, and can accept a proton from the acid medium to form . This ion is then deprotonated, explaining the hydrogen exchange, or loses a hydrogen molecule to form – the carbonium ion. This species is quite reactive, and can yield several new carbocations, shown below. Larger alkanes, such as ethane, are also reactive in magic acid, and both exchange hydrogen atoms and condense to form larger carbocations, such as protonated neopentane. This ion is then cloven at higher temperatures, and reacts to release hydrogen gas and forms the t-amyl cation at lower temperatures. It is on this note that George Olah suggests we no longer take as synonymous the names "alkane" and "paraffin." The word "paraffin" is derived from the Latin "parum affinis", meaning "lacking in affinity." He says, "It is, however, with some nostalgia that we make this recommendation, as ‘inert gases’ at least maintained their ‘nobility’ as their chemical reactivity became apparent, but referring to ‘noble hydrocarbons’ would seem to be inappropriate." Catalysis with hydroperoxides Magic acid catalyzes cleavage-rearrangement reactions of tertiary hydroperoxides and tertiary alcohols. The nature of the experiments used to determine the mechanism, namely the fact that they took place in superacid medium, allowed observation of the carbocation intermediates formed. It was determined that the mechanism depends on the amount of magic acid used. Near molar equivalency, only O–O cleavage is observed, but with increasing excess of magic acid, C–O cleavage competes with O–O cleavage. The excess acid likely deactivates the hydrogen peroxide formed in C–O heterolysis. Magic acid also catalyzes electrophilic hydroxylation of aromatic compounds with hydrogen peroxide, resulting in high-yield preparation of monohydroxylated products. Phenols exist as completely protonated species in superacid solutions, and when produced in the reaction, are then deactivated toward further electrophilic attack. Protonated hydrogen peroxide is the active hydroxylating agent. Catalysis with ozone Oxygenation of alkanes can be catalyzed by a magic acid–SO2ClF solution in the