text: Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is an organofluorine compound with the chemical formula CFCOH. It is a haloacetic acid, with all three of the acetyl groups hydrogen atoms replaced by fluorine atoms. It is a colorless liquid with a vinegar-like odor. TFA is a stronger acid than acetic acid, having an acid ionisation constant, K', that is approximately 34,000 times higher, as the highly electronegative fluorine atoms and consequent electron-withdrawing nature of the trifluoromethyl group weakens the oxygen-hydrogen bond (allowing for greater acidity) and stabilises the anionic conjugate base.  TFA is widely used in organic chemistry for various purposes.