[3][4] Like its pnictogen congeners, hexafluoroarsenate is a noncoordinating anion, a counterion used to stably store extremely reactive cations.

[5] Through the appropriate choice of fluorine donor, the synthesis of hexafluoroarsenate can also double as preparation of an exotic cation.

[2][6] The resulting salts are typically stable to metathesis with silver(I), ammonium, potassium, or caesium ions.

The anhydrous compound has been analyzed by X-ray crystallography, which reveals hexafluoroarsenate with a proton attached to one fluoride.

[9][4] Subsequent investigation revealed that the high conductivity occurs because both electron holes in the graphite and the hexafluoroarsenate ions themselves serve as charge carriers.