15 Facts on HBr + NaClO2: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Hydrobromic acid (HBr) is a powerful mineral acid, and sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) is a sodium salt of chlorite anion. Let us know more about their reaction.

HBr is a diatomic molecule with acidity higher than HCl; its physical state is colorless or sometimes pale yellowish liquid with an acrid odor. NaClO₂ is a white crystalline solid, and it is oxidizing in nature.

This article below is based on the discussion regarding a few characteristics of the reaction between HBr and NaClO₂.

What is the product of HBr and NaClO₂?

Sodium bromide (NaBr) and chlorous acid(HClO₂) are the products of the reaction HBr + NaClO₂.

HBr+ NaClO₂⟶ HClO₂ + NaBr

What type of reaction is HBr + NaClO₂?

HBr+ NaClO₂ reaction is a double displacement reaction.

How to balance HBr + NaClO₂?

Balancing the HBr+ NaClO₂ reaction by charge and mass conservation demands the listed steps.

HBr+ NaClO₂⟶ HClO₂ + NaBr

• Note down the elements involved in the reaction as shown below.

Elements involved	Reactants side	Products side
H	1	1
Cl	1	1
Na	1	1
O	2	2
Br	1	1

• Since both sides contain the same number of atoms, so avoid the multiplication process.
• The balanced chemical equation of HBr+ NaClO₂ reaction is
• HBr + NaClO₂ = HClO₂ +NaBr

HBr + NaClO₂ titration

HBr + NaClO₂ titration is not possible because HBr is a very strong mineral acid, and titration between HBr and NaClO₂ can produce chlorine dioxide gas (ClO₂). Such titration is not reported in literature.

HBr + NaClO₂ net ionic equation

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction has no net ionic equation as described below, but the complete ionic equation is obtained as follows:

• Write the balanced chemical reaction.
• HBr + NaClO₂ = HClO₂ +NaBr
• NaClO₂, HBr, HClO₂ and NaBr dissociates as:
• NaClO₂ = Na⁺ +ClO₂^– 
• HBr = H⁺ + Br^– 
• HClO₂ = H⁺ + ClO₂^–
• NaBr= Na⁺ + Br^–
• So, the complete ionic equation is
• H⁺ + Br^– + Na⁺ +ClO₂^– = H⁺ + ClO₂^–+ Na⁺ + Br^–
• H⁺,Br^–, Na⁺, ClO₂^– gets cancelled out from both sides.
• And so no net ionic reaction remains there.

HBr + NaClO₂ conjugate pairs

The conjugate pairs of the HBr + NaClO₂ reaction are:

• HBr has conjugate base Br.^–
• HClO₂ has conjugate base ClO₂^– .
• The conjugate acid of NaClO₂ is HClO₂.

HBr and NaClO₂ intermolecular force

The intermolecular forces of the reaction HBr + NaClO₂ are:

• The strongly polar HBr molecule has ionic interaction between H⁺ and Br^– .
• NaClO₂ has ionic interaction between Na⁺ and ClO₂^– .
• NaBr is polar and ionic and thus possesses ion-dipole interaction.
• HClO₂ shows positive to negative dipole-dipole attraction force.

HBr + NaClO₂ reaction enthalpy

The enthalpy of the HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is 2.65 KJ/mol.

Compounds	Number of Moles	Enthalpy of formation, ΔH0f (KJ/mol)
HBr	1	-36.45
NaClO2	1	-307.0
NaBr	1	-361.41
HClO2	1	20.61

• Reaction enthalpy =ΔH⁰_{f (reaction)} = ΣΔH⁰_{f (product)} – ΣΔH⁰_{f (reactants)}
• ΔH⁰_{f (reaction)}= [1×(-361.41) + 1×(20.61)] – [1×(-36.45) + 1×(-307.0)] KJ/mol.
• ΔH⁰_{f (reaction)} = 2.65 KJ/mol.

Is HBr + NaClO₂ a buffer solution?

HBr + NaClO₂ is not a buffer solution because HBr is a strong acid, so unable to create a buffer solution.

Is HBr + NaClO₂ a complete reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is a complete reaction as the products- HClO₂ and NaBr do not react with each other to continue the reaction further.

Is HBr + NaClO₂ an exothermic or endothermic reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is an endothermic reaction because the enthalpy change for the reaction is positive (2.65 KJ/mol).

Is HBr + NaClO₂ a redox reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is not a redox reaction because the oxidation states of the compounds do not change during the course of the reaction.

Is HBr + NaClO₂ a precipitation reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is not a precipitation reaction because the formed products NaBr and HClO₂ are both soluble in water, so does not constitute a precipitate.

Is HBr + NaClO₂ reversible or irreversible reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is a reversible reaction because the reverse reaction is also possible under certain conditions.

HClO₂ + NaBr ⇌ HBr+ NaClO₂

Is HBr + NaClO₂ displacement reaction?

The HBr + NaClO₂ reaction is a double displacement reaction because both the cations H⁺ and Na⁺ displace each other in their respective positions.

Conclusion

Sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) has a variety of uses, such as an oxidizing agent, a bleaching agent, and a germicide. HBr is a valuable reagent used in organic and inorganic synthetic applications. Chlorous acid (HClO₂) is often used as an oxidizing agent in chemistry.