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Problems · Problem 7.10

Q.What is the action of concentrated H2_2SO4_4 on

(a) HBr
(b) HI
Maharashtra MsbshseTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★
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Conc. H2_2SO4_4 oxidises the easily oxidisable halides Br−^- and I−^- to Br2_2 and I2_2 respectively, itself being reduced to SO2_2 -- which is also why conc. H2_2SO4_4 cannot be used to prepare pure HBr or HI from their salts.

Step 1. Concentrated sulfuric acid acts as a moderately strong oxidising agent, and Br−^- and I−^- (unlike Cl−^-) are easily oxidised to their free halogens.

Step 2 (a). Concentrated sulfuric acid oxidises hydrobromic acid to bromine:

2HBr+H2SO4⟶Br2+SO2+2H2O\mathrm{2HBr + H_2SO_4 \longrightarrow Br_2 + SO_2 + 2H_2O}

Step 3 (b). It oxidises hydroiodic acid to iodine: …

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