13 Facts on HBr + CuCO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Cupric carbonate (CuCO₃) and hydrogen bromide (HBr) are inorganic base and acid respectively. Let us examine more about the reaction between HBr and CuCO₃:

Cupric carbonate (CuCO₃) is a white solid found in nature as the mineral malachite. HBr is a strong acid and it is readily ionizable due to the significant difference in electronegativity between the H and Br atoms.  It is a light yellow liquid and used to make organic bromides.

Let’s talk about a few facts regarding the reaction between HBr and CuCO₃ in this article, such as the final product, molecular forces, the type of reaction, buffer solution, etc.

What is the product of HBr and CuCO₃

The reaction of hydrogen bromide (HBr) with cupric carbonate (CuCO₃) will give the cupric Bromide (CuBr₂), water (H₂O) and carbon Dioxide (CO₂). The reaction is

2HBr + CuCO₃ → CuBr₂ + H₂O + CO₂       

What type of reaction is HBr + CuCO₃

When HBr reacts with CuCO₃, a double replacement reaction occurs.

How to balance HBr + CuCO₃

Balance the equation HBr + CuCO₃ = CuBr₂ + H₂O + CO₂ using the algebraic approach.

• Put a variable on each compound’s label.
• To indicate the unknown coefficients, give the equation a variable name for each compound (reactant or product).
• aHBr + bCuCO₃ = cCuBr₂ + dH₂O + fCO₂
• Make an equation for each of the following elements: H, Br, Cu, C, and O, where each term is the number of atoms of the respective element in the reactant or product.
• H: 1a = 2d; Br: 1a = 2c; Cu: 1b = 1c; C: 1b = 1f; O: 3b = 2f
• All Variables Should Be Solved
• Get the smallest, entire integer numbers from the result by simplifying it.
• a = 2 (HBr); b = 1 (CuCO₃); c = 1 (CuBr₂); d = 1 (H₂O); f = 1 (CO₂)
• Substitute Coefficients and Verify Result
• 2HBr + CuCO₃ = CuBr₂ + H₂O + CO₂
• The equation 2HBr + CuCO₃ = CuBr₂ + H₂O + CO₂ is balanced because each element is present in equal amounts in both the reactants and products.

HBr + CuCO₃ net ionic equation

The HBr + CuCO₃ net ionic equation is

2H⁺ (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → Cu²⁺(aq) + H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)  

The steps for writing a net ionic equation:

• If the reaction is given in sentence form, convert reactants to formulas, and impute products. This takes some prior knowledge of nomenclature and classifications of reaction types (e.g., here, a double replacement with subsequent gas formation).
• HBr (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → CuBr₂ (aq)+ H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)    
• Balance this molecular equation.
• 2HBr (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → CuBr₂ (aq)+ H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)    
• If the reaction is taking place in an aqueous solution, any of the ionic reactants and products that are in the solution and are fully dissociated should be written as ions instead of molecules (because that’s what they will be in the solution).
• 2H⁺ (aq) + 2Br^– (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → Cu²⁺(aq) + 2Br^– (aq) + H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)       
• Cancel any components that appear on both sides.
• 2H⁺ (aq) + 2Br^– (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → Cu²⁺(aq) + 2Br^– (aq) + H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)    
• Neaten up: rewrite the equation without the components you cancelled in step
• 2H⁺ (aq) + CuCO₃ (s) → Cu²⁺(aq) + H₂O (l)+ CO₂ (g)  

HBr + CuCO₃ conjugate pairs

HBr + has following conjugate acid-base pair, which are corresponding de-protonated and protonated form of that particular species

• Conjugate base pair of HBr is bromide ion (Br^–)
• Conjugate pair of OH^– is H₂O

HBr and CuCO₃ intermolecular forces

HBr + CuCO₃ has following intermolecular forces

• HBr has dipole-dipole interactions
• CuCO₃ has electrostatic force of attraction (Columbic force)
• CuBr₂ has ionic interaction
• H₂O has Hydrogen bonds, dipole-induced dipole forces, and London dispersion forces

HBr + CuCO₃ reaction enthalpy

HBr and CuCO₃ reaction enthalpy is -153.22 KJ/mol which can be obtained by the formula: enthalpy of products – enthalpy of reactants.

• Enthalpy of formation of HBr = -36.45 kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of formation of CuCO₃ = -595 kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of formation of CuBr₂ = -141.8kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of formation of H₂O = -285.82 kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of formation of CO₂ = -393.5 kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of reaction = (-393.5-285.82-141.8) – (595 – (2*-36.45)) = -153.22 kJ/mol

Is HBr + CuCO₃ a buffer solution

HBr and CuCO₃ is not a buffer solution. Because, HBr is a strong acid and CuCO₃ is a weak base.

Is HBr + CuCO₃ a complete reaction

This is a complete reaction. HBr and CuCO₃ will react to form CuBr₂, H₂O and CO₂.

Is HBr + CuCO₃ an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HBr + CuCO₃ is an exothermic reaction as heat is liberated in the process.

Is HBr + CuCO₃ a redox reaction

HBr + CuCO₃ is not a redox reaction, because neither the reactant nor the product side’s oxidation status of any element changes.

Is HBr + CuCO₃ a precipitation reaction

HBr + CuCO₃ is a precipitation reaction, because HBr is soluble in water, but CuCO₃ is not. The precipitate that forms will be CuBr₂.

Is HBr + CuCO₃ reversible or irreversible reaction

HBr + CuCO₃ is a irreversible reaction as the products (CuBr₂, H₂O and CO₂) cannot be converted back into the reactants (HBr and CuCO₃).

Is HBr + CuCO₃ displacement reaction

HBr + CuCO₃ is a double displacement reaction, since Cu²⁺ is displaced by H⁺ in HBr forming corresponding CuBr_2, whereas  Cu²⁺ also displaced H⁺ and produced H₂O and CO₂.

Conclusion

The products of this reaction have a number of uses. Copper (II) bromide is used in photography and as a corrosion inhibitor. Carbon dioxide is used in the  refrigerant, in fire extinguishers, as well as in various industrial processes