15 Facts on HCl + NH4Br: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Hydrochloric acid is a solution of gases (H₂ and Cl₂) in water.  Ammonium Bromide is a salt of HBr and has a saline taste. Let us now see how HCl + NH₄Br reacts with each other.

When hydrogen bromide directly acts on ammonia, NH₄Br formation takes place. HCl or hydrogen chloride is a colorless gas that has a very strong odor. NH₄Br is a very weak acid in comparison with HCl (i,e strong acid).

Now in this article, we will discuss the HCl + NH₄Br reaction, net ionic equations, reaction type, conjugate pairs, enthalpy, etc in detail.

What is the product of HCl and NH₄Br

Hydrobromic acid (HBr) and Salammoniac (NH₄Cl) are the products formed by the reaction of Ammonium Bromide(NH₄Br) and Hydrogen Chloride(HCl). 

NH₄Br + HCl → NH₄Cl + HBr

What type of reaction is HCl +NH₄Br

The HCl + NH₄Br reaction is a double-displacement reaction or metathesis type of reaction.

NH₄Br + HCl → NH₄Cl + HBr

How to balance HCl+ NH₄Br

The unbalanced equation for the reaction of HCl + NH₄Br is written as-

NH₄Br + HCl → NH₄Cl + HBr

To balance the above equation we use the following steps-

• First, assign different variables for each of the compounds on both sides(i.e products and reactants).
• a NH₄Br + b HCl → c NH₄Cl + d HBr
•  Several different equations are formed for each element, which represents the total number of atoms present.
• N; 1a =1c, H; 4a+1b= 4c +1d, Br; 1a=1d, Cl;1b=1c
• Now, by using the substitution or elimination method to solve the above equation for each variable, then we get-
• a=1(NH₄Br), b=1HCl, c=1NH₄Cl, d=1HBr
• Now count the number on both sides, we get-

ELEMENTS	LHS	RHS
N	1	1
H	5	5
Br	1	1
Cl	1	1

• Thus the balanced equation is,
• NH₄Br + HCl → NH₄Cl + HBr

HCl + NH₄Br titration

Titration of HCl and NH₄Br is not possible. As both the medium are acidic because the change in pH is not abrupt enough at either equivalence point to permit estimation with visual indicators.

HCl + NH₄Br net ionic equation

The net ionic equation for the reaction of HCl + NH₄Br is-

NH₄Br (s) + H⁺(aq) + Cl^–(aq)   =    NH₄Cl(s) + H⁺(aq) + Br^– (aq)

To get a net ionic equation following steps are used-

• First, write the complete inning equation as follows-
• NH₄⁺(s)  + Br^–(s)  + H⁺(aq) + Cl^–(aq)  =  NH₄⁺(s) + Cl^–(s) +  H⁺(aq) + Br^– (aq)
• In this reaction H⁺ ion is a spectator ion, so it gets canceled from both sides.
• After, removing the H⁺ ion from both the product and reactant side the remaining equation is the net ionic equation of the reaction.
• Thus, the net ionic equation of the HCl + NH₄Br reaction is –
• NH₄Br (s) + Cl^–(aq)   =    NH₄Cl(s) + Br^– (aq)

HCl + NH₄Br conjugate pairs

In the reaction HCL +NH₄Br the conjugate acid-base pairs are as follows-

• Conjugate base of HCl = Cl ^–
• Conjuagte acid of HCl = H₃O⁺
• Conjugate base of NH₄Br = NH₄⁺
• Conjugate acid of NH₄Br= Br-

HCl and NH₄Br intermolecular forces

The reaction between HCl and NH₄Br has the following intermolecular forces-

• Dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces are the two types of intermolecular forces present in HCl.

• In NH₄Br, the ionic forces of attraction are present.
• The molecule of HBr has dipole-dipole forces as it is a polar molecule. There are also dispersion forces present. Among both of the forces dipole-dipole interactions, forces are stronger.

HCl + NH₄Br reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy of HCl + NH₄Br is -28.1 kJ/mol. It is calculated as follows-

Compound	Enthalpy of formation KJ/mol
NH4Br	-270.8
HCl	-92.2
NH4Cl	-314.4
HBr	-20.2

• The total reaction enthalpy = ∑ ∆H⁰_f (products) – ∑ ∆H⁰_f (reactant)
• ∆H = (-314.4) + (-20.2) – (-270.8) + (-92.2) kJ/mol
• ∆H = -28.1 kJ/mol

Is HCl +NH₄Br a buffer solution

When HCl and NH₄Br are mixed, it does not form a buffer solution . As for the buffer solution, a weak acid and its weak salt are mixed but here, hydrochloride acid is present which is a very strong acid.

Is HCl + NH₄Br a complete reaction

The reaction HCl +NH₄Br is a complete reaction as HBr and Salammoniac are the products formed during the reaction and no further products are formed or the reaction cannot be carried on further.

Is HCl + NH₄Br an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HCl + NH₄Br is an exothermic reaction as the total enthalpy of formation is negative (-28.1 kJ/mol).

Is HCl + NH₄Br a redox reaction

The reaction HCl + NH₄Br is not a type of redox reaction, as there is no change in the oxidation number of any element on the both (product and reactant) sides takes place.

Is HCl + NH₄Br a precipitation reaction

HCl + NH₄Br is not a precipitation reaction as the products (ammonium chloride and hydrogen bromide) formed during this reaction are soluble and no precipitate is formed.

Is HCl + NH₄Br reversible or irreversible reaction

HCl+ NH₄Br is a reversible reaction as all the products formed in the reaction are soluble and no gas is evolved during the reaction which makes it convertible.

Is HCl + NH₄Br displacement reaction

The HCl + NH₄Br reaction is a displacement reaction as in this reaction, Br of NH₄Br is displaced by Cl; and Cl from HCl is displaced by Br to form the respective products.

NH₄Br + HCl → NH₄Cl + HBr

Conclusion

Ammonium bromide is a white color powder, with 97.94 g/mol of molar mass. When it reacts with HCl gives ammonium chloride which is used in fertilizers and food additives etc. Hydrobromic acid (HBr) is generally used as a source in bromine manufacturing industries.