Hydrogen bromide

Synonyms

Anhydrous hydrogen bromide; Aqueous hydrogen bromide; Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] UN1048; UN1788

Category

Acids, Inorganic

Description

Colorless gas with a sharp, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Often used in an aqueous solution.]; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in synthesis of organic compounds and bromides; also used to dissolve ores and catalyze alkylation; [ACGIH] Dilute HBr used in holography (color bleach); [www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/medium.html]

Comments

Aqueous hydrogen bromide = Hydrobromic acid; [NIOSH] Skin contact with acid solutions may cause burns. HBr, compared to HCl, is more toxic to rats, and considerably more toxic to mice in acute inhalation studies. [ACGIH] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] The following chemicals can release HBr when spilled in water: Boron tribromide, Phosphorus pentabromide, Acetyl bromide, and Aluminum bromide. [ERG 2016] See the Process, "Toxic Gas from Spilling Chemical in Water." Hydrogen bromide is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

Yes

2 ppm

3 ppm

2 ppm

30 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Other animal data: Hydrogen bromide (with a rat 1­hour LC50 of 2,858 ppm [Back et al. 1972]) is about as acutely toxic as hydrogen chloride (with a rat 1­hour LC50 of 3,124 ppm [MacEwen and Vernot 1974]). . . . Human data: Volunteers noted nose and throat irritation at 2 to 6 ppm after several minutes [Clayton and Clayton 1981]. It has been reported that 1,300 to 2,000 ppm are lethal in exposures lasting a few minutes [NRC 1981].

2 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 2,858 ppm/1H

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from CHEMINFO; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Hydrogen bromide, anhydrous."

Reference Link #2

will not burn

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Pneumonitis, toxic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Metal Extraction and Refining
• Photographic Processing