Hydrobromic Acid 48 % is a strong acid formed by dissolving the diatomic molecule hydrogen bromide (HBr) in water. "Constant boiling" hydrobromic acid is an aqueous solution that distills at 124.3 °C and contains 47.6% HBr by weight, which is 8.89 mol/L. Hydrobromic acid has apKa of -9, making it a stronger acid than hydrochloric acid, but not as strong as hydroiodic acid. Hydrobromic acid is one of the strongest mineral acids known.
Hydrobromic acid 48% is an indispensable raw material for organic intermediates, inorganic pharmaceuticals, photosensitive materials, dyes, and medicines. It is also used in the production of bromine compounds. It is used as an important agent in the industrial processes of isomerization, polymerization, hydration, and dehydration, and esterification reactions. It plays an essential role for the extraction of mercury from the cinnebar ore.
Incompatible with strong bases, strong oxidizing agents, ammonia, ozone, fluorine, water, metals. Air and light sensitive.