Product Name: Hydrobromic Acid
Chemical Formula: HBr in aqueous solution
CAS Number: 10035-10-6
Synonyms: Hydrogen bromide solution, Aqueous hydrogen bromide
Recommended Use: Chemical manufacturing, laboratory reagent, pharmaceuticals, organic synthesis
Manufacturer: Major chemical supply companies in the United States and worldwide
Emergency Contact: Provided by supplier – common emergency lines include CHEMTREC and local fire departments
UN Number: 1788
EPA Registration: Not required for this compound
Revision Date: Often updated periodically, check with supplier for specifics
Classification: Corrosive to metals (Category 1), Skin corrosion (Category 1A), Serious eye damage (Category 1), Acute toxicity (oral, Category 4), Acute toxicity (inhalation, Category 3)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, harmful if swallowed, toxic if inhaled
Pictograms: Corrosive, Health hazard
Precautionary Statements: Wear protective gloves, clothing, eye protection, face protection; do not breathe mist, avoid release to the environment
Other Hazards: Reacts violently with strong oxidizers, can release toxic fumes of hydrogen bromide gas
Chemical Name: Hydrobromic Acid
Concentration: Typically 47–49% by weight
Hydrogen Bromide: 47–49%
Water: Balance to 100%
Impurities: Trace amounts of elemental bromine or other halides possible depending on supplier
CAS Number: 10035-10-6 for solution, 10035-10-6 for HBr component
Inhalation: Move person immediately to fresh air; provide respiratory support if breathing is difficult; seek immediate medical attention
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; rinse skin thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes; call a doctor
Eye Contact: Rinse with water for at least 15 minutes, holding eyelids open; seek immediate medical attention
Ingestion: Rinse mouth; do not induce vomiting; give water if the person is fully conscious; seek rapid medical attention
Most Important Symptoms: Severe burns, eye damage, coughing, difficulty breathing, possible pulmonary edema
Advice to Physicians: Treat chemically-induced burns as for strong acids; monitor airway for swelling; provide symptomatic support
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, alcohol-resistant foam, or carbon dioxide. Direct streams may cause splattering of acid
Hazardous Combustion Products: Hydrogen bromide gas; reacts with metals to produce flammable hydrogen
Protective Equipment: Firefighters wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear to guard against corrosive fumes
Specific Hazards: Non-flammable solution; contact with metals may produce hydrogen gas—explosive in air
Special Procedures: Use water spray to cool exposed containers. Contain runoff to prevent environmental contamination
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area; use chemical splash goggles, acid-resistant gloves, boots, chemical suit, and positive pressure respirator if available
Environmental Precaution: Prevent acid from entering drains, watercourses, or surface water; notify authorities if significant spillage occurs
Containment: Neutralize small spills with soda ash or lime, absorb with inert material, scoop into acid-resistant containers
Cleanup Methods: Ventilate area well; flush residual acid with large volumes of water, collect runoff for disposal as hazardous waste
Decontamination: Restrict area until cleanup is complete; monitor pH of affected surfaces before reuse
Handling Precautions: Always wear chemical splash goggles, rubber gloves, and suitable clothing; use only in fume hood or well-ventilated area; avoid inhaling fumes and contact with skin or eyes
Safe Handling Advice: Keep container tightly closed; never add water directly into acid—always add acid slowly to water
Storage Requirements: Store in tightly sealed, corrosion-resistant containers, separated from incompatible substances such as strong oxidizers, bases, and metals; label area clearly; protect from temperature extremes
Storage Location: Cool, dry, well-ventilated area with acid-resistant flooring
Other Conditions: Inspect regularly for container leaks or signs of corrosion; store away from food and feedstuffs
Workplace Exposure Limits: OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): 3 ppm (10 mg/m³) as HBr; ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 2 ppm (Hydrogen bromide)
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation or process enclosures to keep vapor levels below recommended limits
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical splash goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, impervious apron, face shield for large quantities, proper footwear
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH-approved respirator for acid gas if ventilation inadequate
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after use; launder contaminated clothing before reuse
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid with pungent odor
Odor: Acrid, irritating pungency
pH: Less than 1 (strongly acidic)
Melting Point: Approximately –11°C (20% HBr solution)
Boiling Point: Around 126°C (constant boiling mixture)
Density: 1.49 g/cm³ (48% solution at 20°C)
Solubility: Soluble in water, exothermic
Vapor Pressure: 44 mmHg at 20°C (for 48% solution)
Other Properties: Corrosive to metals; releases highly irritating fumes
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage and usage as an aqueous solution
Reactivity: Reacts violently with alkalis, strong bases, strong oxidizers (such as chlorine, nitric acid)
Hazardous Reactions: Attacks metals, releasing potentially explosive hydrogen gas; may react with organic materials, causing fires
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen bromide vapor, bromine gas under certain conditions
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, strong bases, alkali metals, metals (zinc, aluminum)
Acute Toxicity: Inhalation of concentrated vapors can cause severe respiratory irritation, coughing, chest pain, pulmonary edema; oral exposure can result in burns, abdominal pain, vomiting; skin/eye exposure causes severe burns, possible blindness
Chronic Effects: Prolonged inhalation can damage mucous membranes, cause chronic bronchitis; chronic skin exposure leads to dermatitis
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by IARC, NTP, or OSHA
Mutagenicity: Not known to cause genetic mutations
Other Health Effects: May aggravate pre-existing respiratory disorders; highly corrosive, causing ulceration and perforation of tissues
LD50 (oral, rat): 214 mg/kg (Hydrogen bromide); severe effects seen at much lower concentrations
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations; changes in pH can cause fish kills and disrupt ecosystems
Persistence/Degradability: Dissociates completely in water; does not persist in the environment, but the acidification impact can be significant
Bioaccumulation Potential: Does not bioaccumulate; readily disperses in water
Mobility in Soil: Leaches readily into ground and surface water, may contaminate local supply
Other Harmful Effects: Neutralized rapidly in environment by natural alkalinity, but localized damage occurs before dilution; rapid pH swings may wipe out sensitive aquatic life
Waste Treatment: Neutralize with dilute alkali (lime, sodium carbonate) under controlled conditions; check local pH regulations for wastewater
Disposal Method: Dispose of at licensed hazardous waste facility; never pour down drain unless appropriately treated
Container Disposal: Triple rinse and destroy containers before disposal; ensure labels removed or defaced
Legal Requirements: Comply with local, state, and federal hazardous waste disposal regulations; consult environmental authorities before discharge
Precautions: Wear adequate PPE during disposal procedures; avoid contact with incompatible drainage (such as aluminum piping)
UN Number: 1788
US DOT Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive)
Proper Shipping Name: Hydrobromic Acid Solution
Packing Group: II (medium danger)
Labels: Corrosive
Marine Pollutant Status: Not listed as marine pollutant, but dangerous to aquatic life
Special Precautions: Protect containers from physical damage and temperature extremes; secure upright during carriage
Other Regulations: Subject to transport regulations for corrosive liquids; Emergency Response Guidebook reference: 157
OSHA: Listed as hazardous by OSHA Hazard Communication Standard
SARA Title III: Immediate (acute) health hazard; not listed for specific threshold planning quantity
TSCA: Listed in the US Toxic Substances Control Act inventory
California Proposition 65: Not listed
EPA: Not regulated specifically for environmental releases, but must manage as hazardous waste
WHMIS (Canada): Controlled product, D1B – Toxic material; E – Corrosive material
State Regulations: Included on several U.S. state hazardous substance lists (e.g., New Jersey, Pennsylvania)
International: Classified as hazardous by GHS; covered under various national chemical safety acts
