Sodium Bromide Formula

Sodium Bromide Formula

Sodium bromide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaBr. It is a salt composed of sodium (Na+) cations and bromide (Br-) anions. Historically, sodium bromide was used as an anticonvulsant medication to treat epilepsy. However, its medical use has declined due to the availability of more effective medications with fewer side effects. Learn more about Sodium Bromide formula, its structure, properties and uses in detail.

What is Sodium Bromide?

Sodium bromide (NaBr) is an inorganic compound composed of sodium cations (Na+) and bromide anions (Br-). It is a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water. It has been used in photography as a component of photographic emulsions, where it helps to control the sensitivity of photographic film to light. Sodium bromide is used in the oil and gas industry as a component of drilling fluids. It helps to control the density and viscosity of the drilling fluid and prevent the formation of hydrates.

Sodium Bromide Formula

The chemical formula of sodium bromide is NaBr. Sodium bromide is formed through ionic bonding, where sodium atoms transfer one electron to bromine atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration. The positively charged sodium ions (Na+) are attracted to the negatively charged bromide ions (Br-) by electrostatic forces, forming an ionic lattice structure.

Sodium Bromide Properties

We can study the properties of Sodium Bromide by classifying them into two categories namely physical and chemical properties.

Physical Properties of Sodium Bromide

• Appearance: Sodium bromide typically exists as a white, crystalline powder or colorless crystals. It may also be found in granular form.
• Solubility: It is highly soluble in water, forming a clear, colorless solution. The solubility of sodium bromide decreases with decreasing temperature.
• Melting Point: Sodium bromide has a relatively high melting point of about 747°C (1377°F).
• Odor: It is odorless

Chemical Properties of Sodium Bromide

• Ionization: In aqueous solutions, sodium bromide dissociates completely into sodium ions (Na+) and bromide ions (Br-).
• Reactivity: Sodium bromide is not particularly reactive under standard conditions. However, it can react with strong acids to produce bromine gas (Br2).
• Hygroscopicity: Sodium bromide is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb moisture from the air.

Sodium Bromide Structure

Sodium bromide (NaBr) adopts a simple crystal structure known as a face-centered cubic (FCC) arrangement, which is a type of cubic close-packed (CCP) structure.

• Unit Cell: The basic building block of the sodium bromide crystal lattice is a unit cell. In the FCC arrangement, the unit cell is cubic in shape.
• Coordination Number: Each sodium ion (Na+) is surrounded by six bromide ions (Br-) arranged in an octahedral geometry, and vice versa.
• Ionic Bonds: The structure is primarily held together by strong ionic bonds between the positively charged sodium ions and the negatively charged bromide ions.
• Symmetry: The sodium bromide crystal lattice exhibits cubic symmetry due to the arrangement of ions in a cubic unit cell.

Sodium Bromide Uses

• Medical Applications: Sodium bromide has been historically used as an anticonvulsant medication to treat epilepsy. However, its medical use has declined due to the availability of more effective medications with fewer side effects.
• Photography: It has been used in photography as a component of photographic emulsions, where it helps to control the sensitivity of photographic film to light.
• Oil Drilling Fluids: Sodium bromide is used in the oil and gas industry as a component of drilling fluids. It helps to control the density and viscosity of the drilling fluid and prevent the formation of hydrates.
• Chemical Synthesis: It serves as a source of bromide ions in various chemical reactions and synthesis processes.