Reactions
Upon dissolution in water, which is highly exothermic, the hydrogen halides give the corresponding acids. These acids are very strong, reflecting their tendency to ionize in aqueous solution yielding hydronium ions (H3O+). With the exception of hydrofluoric acid, the halogen halides are strong acids, with acid strength increasing down the group. Hydrofluoric acid is complicated because its strength depends on the concentration owing to the effects of homoconjugation. As solutions in nonaqueous solvents, such as acetonitrile, the hydrogen halides are only modestly acidic however.
Similarly, the hydrogen halides react with ammonia (and other bases), forming ammonium halides:
- HX + NH3 → NH4X
In organic chemistry, the hydrohalogenation reaction is used to prepare halocarbons. For example, chloroethane is produced by hydrochlorination of ethylene:
- C2H4 + HCl → CH3CH2Cl
Read more about this topic: Hydrogen Halide
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