Temperature dependence of the surface tension and 0.1 MPa density for 1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate with n = 2, 4, and 6

Highlights: ► Measurements of the 0.1 MPa densities and the air–liquid interfacial tension for ILs. ► Three imidazolium-based tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ionic liquids. ► Efficiency with which Cl− reduces the density of an IL depends strongly on its anion. ► A QSPR indicates an anomalously high surface tension for hexafluorophosphate IL's. - Abstract: Experimental air–liquid interfacial tension data and density data are presented for three 1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphates (FAP), [CnMIM][(C2F5)3PF3], with n = 2, 4, and 6, measured at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 267 K to 360 K using the Krűss K100MK2 tensiometer. The accuracy of the surface tension measurements was checked by employing the Wilhelmy plate and the du Noüy ring methods in parallel. The combined standard uncertainty associated with the Wilhelmy plate method is estimated to be ±0.1 mN · m−1. The density data were obtained using buoyancy method with an estimated standard uncertainty less then ±0.4 kg · m−3 (3 · 10−4ρ). The chloride anions decrease the density of the tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphates of interest up to six times more effectively than they decrease the density of the imidazolium based tetrafluoroborates. A QSPR analysis of the surface tension of imidazolium based ionic liquids with BF4, TFA, DCA, FAP, NTf2, and PF6 anions indicates, that the FAP ionic liquids fit well into the analyzed group of imidazolium based ionic liquids while those having hexafluorophosphate anion show anomalously high deviations of the experimental surface tension from the values predicted by the QSPR model.