Strontium bromide

Description

Strontium bromide has the formula SrBr2. At room temperature, it is a white, odorless, crystalline powder with the molecular weight of 247.43 g/mol. Strontium bromide burns bright red in a flame test. It is used in flares and also has some pharmaceutical uses. Several hydrates have been characterized including the monohydrate and the hexahydrate, SrBr2·6H2O. This salt is a white, hygroscopic powder soluble in water and alcohol. It loses water at 180°C, melts at 643°C and is used in medicine and as an analytical reagent.
The anhydrate, SrBr2, is a colorless, transparent, crystal, odorless, having a bitter, saline taste. It is very deliquescent and soluble in water and is readily soluble in alcohol and amyl alcohol. The specific gravity of SrBr2 is 4.210 g/cm3. It can be prepared by treating SrCO3 with a hydrogen bromide solution. Alternatively, a strontium salt (carbonate, sulfate, chloride, etc.) is treated with bromine or hydrobromic acid in presence of a reducing agent.

Chemical Properties

White crystalline powder

Uses

Also has some pharmaceutical uses

Uses

Reagent for facile synthesis of poly(phenylcarbyne), a precursor to diamond-like carbon.1

Uses

Strontium bromide are colorless crystals made by neutralizing hydrobromic acid with strontium hydrate. The crystals are soluble in water but less so in alcohol. Strontium bromide was occasionally used to increase contrast in collodion emulsions.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion and inhalation.

Purification Methods

Crystallise the bromide from water (0.5mL/g). It is deliquescent. [Ehrlich in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 930 1963.]