13 Facts on HBr + CuCO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Cupric carbonate (CuCO₃) and hydrogen bromide (HBr) are inorganic base and acid respectively. Let us examine more about the reaction between HBr and CuCO₃:

Cupric carbonate (CuCO3) is a white solid found in nature as the mineral malachite. HBr is a strong acid and it is readily ionizable due to the significant difference in electronegativity between the H and Br atoms.  It is a light yellow liquid and used to make organic bromides.

Let’s talk about a few facts regarding the reaction between HBr and CuCO3 in this article, such as the final product, molecular forces, the type of reaction, buffer solution, etc.

What is the product of HBr and CuCO3

The reaction of hydrogen bromide (HBr) with cupric carbonate (CuCO3) will give the cupric Bromide (CuBr2), water (H2O) and carbon Dioxide (CO2). The reaction is

2HBr + CuCO3 → CuBr2 + H2O + CO2       

What type of reaction is HBr + CuCO3

When HBr reacts with CuCO3, a double replacement reaction occurs.

How to balance HBr + CuCO3

Balance the equation HBr + CuCO3 = CuBr2 + H2O + CO2 using the algebraic approach.

  • Put a variable on each compound’s label.
  • To indicate the unknown coefficients, give the equation a variable name for each compound (reactant or product).
  • aHBr + bCuCO3 = cCuBr2 + dH2O + fCO2
  • Make an equation for each of the following elements: H, Br, Cu, C, and O, where each term is the number of atoms of the respective element in the reactant or product.
  • H: 1a = 2d; Br: 1a = 2c; Cu: 1b = 1c; C: 1b = 1f; O: 3b = 2f
  • All Variables Should Be Solved
  • Get the smallest, entire integer numbers from the result by simplifying it.
  • a = 2 (HBr); b = 1 (CuCO3); c = 1 (CuBr2); d = 1 (H2O); f = 1 (CO2)
  • Substitute Coefficients and Verify Result
  • 2HBr + CuCO3 = CuBr2 + H2O + CO2
  • The equation 2HBr + CuCO3 = CuBr2 + H2O + CO2 is balanced because each element is present in equal amounts in both the reactants and products.

HBr + CuCO3 net ionic equation

The HBr + CuCO3 net ionic equation is

2H+ (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → Cu2+(aq) + H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)  

The steps for writing a net ionic equation:

  • If the reaction is given in sentence form, convert reactants to formulas, and impute products. This takes some prior knowledge of nomenclature and classifications of reaction types (e.g., here, a double replacement with subsequent gas formation).
  • HBr (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → CuBr2 (aq)+ H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)    
  • Balance this molecular equation.
  • 2HBr (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → CuBr2 (aq)+ H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)    
  • If the reaction is taking place in an aqueous solution, any of the ionic reactants and products that are in the solution and are fully dissociated should be written as ions instead of molecules (because that’s what they will be in the solution).
  • 2H+ (aq) + 2Br (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → Cu2+(aq) + 2Br (aq) + H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)       
  • Cancel any components that appear on both sides.
  • 2H+ (aq) + 2Br (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → Cu2+(aq) + 2Br (aq) + H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)    
  • Neaten up: rewrite the equation without the components you cancelled in step
  • 2H+ (aq) + CuCO3 (s) → Cu2+(aq) + H2O (l)+ CO2 (g)  

HBr + CuCO3 conjugate pairs

HBr + has following conjugate acid-base pair, which are corresponding de-protonated and protonated form of that particular species

  • Conjugate base pair of HBr is bromide ion (Br)
  • Conjugate pair of OH is H2O

HBr and CuCO3 intermolecular forces

HBr + CuCO3 has following intermolecular forces

  • HBr has dipole-dipole interactions
  • CuCO3 has electrostatic force of attraction (Columbic force)
  • CuBr2 has ionic interaction
  • H2O has Hydrogen bonds, dipole-induced dipole forces, and London dispersion forces

HBr + CuCO3 reaction enthalpy

HBr and CuCO3 reaction enthalpy is -153.22 KJ/mol which can be obtained by the formula: enthalpy of products – enthalpy of reactants.

  • Enthalpy of formation of HBr = -36.45 kJ/mol
  • Enthalpy of formation of CuCO3 = -595 kJ/mol
  • Enthalpy of formation of CuBr2 = -141.8kJ/mol
  • Enthalpy of formation of H2O = -285.82 kJ/mol
  • Enthalpy of formation of CO2 = -393.5 kJ/mol
  • Enthalpy of reaction = (-393.5-285.82-141.8) – (595 – (2*-36.45)) = -153.22 kJ/mol

Is HBr + CuCO3 a buffer solution

HBr and CuCO3 is not a buffer solution. Because, HBr is a strong acid and CuCO3 is a weak base.

Is HBr + CuCO3 a complete reaction

This is a complete reaction. HBr and CuCO3 will react to form CuBr2, H2O and CO2.

Is HBr + CuCO3 an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HBr + CuCO3 is an exothermic reaction as heat is liberated in the process.

Is HBr + CuCO3 a redox reaction

HBr + CuCO3 is not a redox reaction, because neither the reactant nor the product side’s oxidation status of any element changes.

Is HBr + CuCO3 a precipitation reaction

HBr + CuCO3 is a precipitation reaction, because HBr is soluble in water, but CuCO3 is not. The precipitate that forms will be CuBr2.

Is HBr + CuCO3 reversible or irreversible reaction

HBr + CuCO3 is a irreversible reaction as the products (CuBr2, H2O and CO2) cannot be converted back into the reactants (HBr and CuCO3).

Is HBr + CuCO3 displacement reaction

HBr + CuCO3 is a double displacement reaction, since Cu2+ is displaced by H+ in HBr forming corresponding CuBr2, whereas  Cu2+ also displaced H+ and produced H2O and CO2.

Picture2
Double displacement reaction

Conclusion

The products of this reaction have a number of uses. Copper (II) bromide is used in photography and as a corrosion inhibitor. Carbon dioxide is used in the  refrigerant, in fire extinguishers, as well as in various industrial processes