(Redirected from Carbon tetrabromide)
'Tetrabromomethane', CBr
4, also known as 'carbon tetrabromide', is a
carbon bromide. Both names are acceptable under
IUPAC nomenclature, depending on whether it is considered as an
organic or an
inorganic compound.
Physical properties
Tetrabromomethane has two
allotropes: crystaline II below 46.9 °C (320.0 K) and crystalline I above 46.9 °C. Monoclinic allotrope has
space group ''C2/c'' with
lattice constants: ''a'' = 20.9, ''b'' = 12.1, ''c'' = 21.2 (.10
-1 nm), β = 110.5°.
[1] Bond energy of C-Br is 235 kJ.mol
-1.
[2]
Due to its symmetrically substituted
tetrahedral structure, its
dipole moment is 0
Debye. Critical temperature is 439 °C (712 K) and critical pressure is 4.26 MPa.
Chemical reactions
In combination with
triphenylphosphine, CBr
4 is used in the
Appel reaction, which converts
alcohols to alkyl bromides. It is significantly less stable than lighter
tetrahalomethanes.
It is prepared by
methane bromination using
HBr or
Br2. It can be also prepared by more economical reaction of
tetrachloromethane with
aluminium bromide at 100 °C.
Uses
It is used as a solvent for greases, waxes and oils, in plastic and rubber industry for blowing and
vulcanization, further for polymerization, as a
sedative and as an intermediate in manufacturing agrochemicals. Due to its non-flammability it is used as an ingredient in fire resistant chemicals. It is also used for separating minerals because of its high density.
References
1. F. Brezina, J. Mollin, R. Pastorek, Z. Sindelar. ''Chemicke tabulky anorganickych sloucenin'' (''Chemical tables of inorganic compounds''). SNTL, 1986.
2. N. N. Greenwood, A. Earnshaw. ''Chemie prvku'' (''Chemistry of the Elements''). Informatorium, Prague, 1993.
See also
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Haloalkane
★
Halomethane
★
Bromomethane
★
Dibromomethane
★
Bromoform (Tribromomethane)
★
Tetrafluoromethane
★
Carbon tetrachloride (Tetrachloromethane)
★
Carbon tetraiodide (Tetraiodomethane)
External links
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★
★
MSDS at sciencelab.com