Zinc bromide (
ZnBr2) is an
inorganic compound with the chemical formula
ZnBr2. It is a colourless salt that shares many properties with
zinc chloride (ZnCl2), namely a high solubility in water forming acidic solutions, and good solubility in organic solvents. It is
hygroscopic and forms a dihydrate ZnBr2·2H2O.
Production
ZnBr2 · 2H2O is prepared by treating zinc oxide or zinc metal with
hydrobromic acid.[1]
ZnO + 2HBr + H2O → ZnBr2·2H2O
Zn + 2HBr → ZnBr2 + H2
The anhydrous material can be produced by dehydration of the dihydrate with hot CO2 or by reaction of zinc metal and bromine.[2] Sublimation in a stream of hydrogen bromide also gives the anhydrous derivative.[1]
Structure
ZnBr2 crystallizes in the same structure as
ZnI2: four tetrahedral Zn centers share three vertices to form “super-tetrahedra” of nominal composition {Zn4Br10}2−, which are linked by their vertices to form a three-dimensional structure.[3] The dihydrate ZnBr2 · 2H2O can be described as ([Zn(H2O)62+)2([Zn2Br62-).[4]
Gaseous ZnBr2 is linear in accordance with
VSEPR theory with a Zn-Br bond length of 221 pm.[5]
Uses
Zinc bromide is used in the following applications:[2]
In oil and natural gas wells, solutions containing zinc bromide are used to displace drilling mud when transitioning from the drilling phase to the completion phase or in well workover operations. The extremely dense brine solution gives the fluid its weight of 20 pounds/gallon, which makes it especially useful in holding back flammable oil and gas particles in high pressure wells. However, the high acidity and
osmolarity cause corrosion and handling problems. Crews must be issued slicker suits and rubber boots because the fluid is so dehydrating.[6]
Zinc bromide solutions can be used as a
transparent shield against
radiation. The space between two
glass panes is filled with a strong aqueous solution of zinc bromide with a very high
density, to be used as a window on a
hot cell. This type of window has the advantage over
lead glass in that it will not darken as a result of exposure to radiation. All glass will darken slowly over time due to radiation, however this is especially true in a hot cell, where exceptional levels of radiation are present. The advantage of an aqueous salt solution is that any radiation damage will last less than a
millisecond, so the shield will undergo self-repair.[7]
Safety
Safety considerations are similar to those for zinc chloride, for which the toxic dose for humans is 3–5 g.[2]
^Blaylock, D. P.; Abu-Jawdeh, E. (January 1999).
"The Georgia Institute of Technology High-Dose Gamma Irradiation Facility". 32nd Annual Midyear Meeting - Creation and Future Legacy of Stockpile Stewardship Isotope Production, Applications, and Consumption. Poster Session. Albuquerque, NM: Health Physics Society.