Chapter 4: Problem 111
Hydrogen halides (HF, HCl, HBr, HI) are highly reactive compounds that have many industrial and laboratory uses. (a) In the laboratory, HF and HCl can be generated by reacting \(\mathrm{CaF}_{2}\) and \(\mathrm{NaCl}\) with concentrated sulfuric acid. Write appropriate equations for the reactions. (Hint: These are not redox reactions.) (b) Why is it that HBr and HI cannot be prepared similarly, that is, by reacting \(\mathrm{NaBr}\) and \(\mathrm{NaI}\) with concentrated sulfuric acid? (Hint: \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) is a stronger oxidizing agent than both \(\mathrm{Br}_{2}\) and \(\mathrm{I}_{2} .\) ) (c) \(\mathrm{HBr}\) can be prepared by reacting phosphorus tribromide \(\left(\mathrm{PBr}_{3}\right)\) with water. Write an equation for this reaction.