Agent Name | Hydrogen bromide |
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CAS Number | 10035-10-6 |
Formula | Br-H |
Major Category | Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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 2012] 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. |
Exposure Assessment | |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) | Insufficient data |
TIH | Yes |
Ceiling (ACGIH) | 2 ppm |
PEL (OSHA) | 3 ppm |
MAK | 2 ppm |
IDLH (NIOSH) | 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]. |
Odor Threshold Low | 2 ppm |
Lethal Concentration | 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 | |
Adverse Effects | |
Toxic Pneumonitis | Yes |
Fibrogenic | Yes |
Dermatotoxin | Skin Burns |
Links to Other NLM Databases | |
Health Studies | Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: |
Toxicity Information | |
Chemical Information | |
Related Information in HazMap | |
Diseases | Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: |
Processes | Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: |