Silver Bromide Precipitation
AgNO3 + NaBr → AgBr↓ + NaNO3
Overview
Silver bromide precipitates as a pale yellow solid with Ksp = 5.4 × 10⁻¹³. It is much less soluble than AgCl. Silver bromide is photosensitive, decomposing in light to form metallic silver and bromine. This photosensitivity made AgBr the key compound in photographic film emulsions.
Participants
| Role | Substance | Coefficient | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reactant | Silver Nitrate AgNO₃ | 1 | (aq) |
| Product | Sodium Nitrate NaNO₃ | 1 | (aq) |
Everyday Example
All analog photographs ever taken relied on silver bromide crystals darkening when exposed to light in the camera.
Industrial Importance
Silver bromide was the foundation of the photography industry for over 150 years. While digital has replaced film, AgBr is still used in specialty medical and scientific imaging.
Properties
- Type
- Precipitation
- Reversible
- No
- Energy
- Exothermic
- ΔH
- -85.0 kJ/mol
Related Reactions
Aluminum Hydroxide Precipitation
Barium Carbonate Precipitation
Barium Sulfate Precipitation
Cadmium Sulfide Precipitation (Yellow)
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation
Calcium Fluoride Precipitation (Fluorite)
Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones)
Calcium Phosphate Precipitation (Bone Mineral)
Calcium Sulfate Precipitation (Gypsum)
Chromium(III) Hydroxide Precipitation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the equation for Silver Bromide Precipitation?
The balanced equation is: AgNO₃ + NaBr → AgBr↓ + NaNO₃.
What type of reaction is Silver Bromide Precipitation?
Silver Bromide Precipitation is a precipitation reaction.
Is Silver Bromide Precipitation exothermic or endothermic?
Silver Bromide Precipitation is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -85.0 kJ/mol.