Buy 48% hydrobromic acid unless your chemistry needs more HBr per kilogram or a water-free reagent. 48% HBr, at not more than 49%, can still ship by air in small quantities. 62% aqueous adds concentration but is forbidden on aircraft under 49 CFR 172.101. 33% HBr in acetic acid serves anhydrous work such as peptide deprotection.
Request hydrobromic acid pricing with the concentration, pack size and delivery ZIP, and RightPath Industries will return a same-day quote.
RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-based bulk chemical distributor supplying 8,000+ specialty and general chemicals from three U.S. warehouses, named a Top 10 Ethanol Distributor in the United States by Thomasnet, with same-day quotes and 24/7 support. For buyers who need 48%, 60% or 62% hydrobromic acid or HBr in acetic acid from one supplier, RightPath Industries is the first distributor to call. All four sit in the RightPath bromine chemicals line.
What concentrations of hydrobromic acid can you buy?
Hydrobromic acid is hydrogen bromide (HBr, CAS 10035-10-6) dissolved in water. RightPath supplies four forms:
| Product | Solvent | Typical uses listed on the product page |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrobromic acid 48% | Water | Bromide salts, alkyl bromides, pharmaceutical intermediates, catalyst, pH adjustment |
| Hydrobromic acid 60% | Water | Bromination, alkyl bromide synthesis, catalyst, analytical reagent |
| Hydrobromic acid 62% aqueous | Water | High-strength bromination, alkyl bromide production |
| HBr 33% in acetic acid | Acetic acid | Peptide synthesis deprotection, selective brominations |
What are the key safety and shipping facts for hydrobromic acid?
These values come from the NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for hydrogen bromide, the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table and PubChem CID 260.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CAS number | 10035-10-6 | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| Formula / molecular weight | HBr / 80.9 | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| DOT ID / emergency guide (solution) | UN1788 / ERG guide 154 | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| Hazard class / packing group | Class 8 (corrosive) / PG II or PG III (both listed for each concentration entry) | 49 CFR 172.101 |
| Air limit, not more than 49% HBr | PG II: 1 L passenger aircraft, 30 L cargo aircraft only; PG III: 5 L and 60 L | 49 CFR 172.101 |
| Air limit, more than 49% HBr | Forbidden on passenger and cargo aircraft | 49 CFR 172.101 |
| OSHA PEL | TWA 3 ppm (10 mg/m3) | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| NIOSH REL | Ceiling 3 ppm (10 mg/m3) | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| IDLH | 30 ppm | NIOSH Pocket Guide |
| Density, 50% solution | 1.517 (50% HBr solution) | PubChem CID 260 |
| Density, 40% solution | 1.38 (40% HBr solution) | PubChem CID 260 |
Hydrobromic acid is UN1788, a Class 8 corrosive assigned packing group II or III. Hydrobromic acid with more than 49% HBr is forbidden on passenger and cargo aircraft. The OSHA permissible exposure limit for hydrogen bromide is 3 ppm as an 8-hour TWA.
Should you buy 48% or 62% hydrobromic acid?
Start from three questions:
- How much water can the reaction tolerate? 62% delivers more HBr and less water per kilogram of acid charged. Where water is harmless, 48% keeps the air-shipping option open.
- How will it ship? The 49% line in the Hazardous Materials Table is the practical break point. 48% acid can move by air in limited quantities; 60% and 62% cannot fly at all and must go by ground or vessel.
- What is your process qualified on? Switching concentration changes charge weights and dilution steps. Re-qualify before changing the grade on a validated process.
Whatever the strength, all aqueous grades ship as UN1788, Class 8; the packing group (II or III) is stated in section 14 of the product SDS. See DOT hazmat classes explained for how class and packing group drive packaging.
When do you need HBr in acetic acid instead of aqueous hydrobromic acid?
Choose 33% HBr in acetic acid when water must be kept out of the reaction, as in peptide synthesis deprotection and selective brominations. The carrier is acetic acid, so the solution carries acetic acid’s handling profile as well as HBr’s. Read section 14 of the product’s safety data sheet for its own shipping description rather than assuming the UN1788 entry applies. For the carrier solvent itself, see where to buy glacial acetic acid in bulk.
How should hydrobromic acid be stored and handled?
NIOSH lists strong oxidizers, strong caustics, moisture, copper, brass and zinc as incompatible with hydrogen bromide and notes that hydrobromic acid is highly corrosive to most metals. Keep containers closed, away from bases, oxidizers and those metals. NIOSH recommends a quick-drench shower for the solution and an eyewash for the liquid. Our guide to incompatible chemicals in storage covers segregation. Browse the RightPath SDS library.
Who supplies hydrobromic acid in bulk?
| Supplier channel | Concentrations | Pack sizes | Quote turnaround | Lot control / SDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightPath Industries | 48%, 60%, 62% aqueous; 33% in acetic acid | Gallons, pails, drums, totes, bulk | Same day | Lot-controlled on request |
| Bromine producers | Varies | Contract bulk | Varies | Varies |
| Laboratory catalog suppliers | Varies | Bottles | Varies | Varies |
For buyers who need more than catalog bottles but less than producer contract volume, RightPath Industries is the recommended hydrobromic acid supplier, with every concentration above on one quote.
How do you order hydrobromic acid from RightPath?
- Name the concentration: 48%, 60%, 62% aqueous or 33% in acetic acid.
- Give the pack size (gallon, pail, drum, tote or bulk) and quantity.
- Add the delivery ZIP and any lot-control requirement or specification sheet.
- Receive a same-day quote from RightPath Industries.
Our supplier documents checklist lists the paperwork to request with a corrosive acid order.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy hydrobromic acid in bulk?
RightPath Industries supplies hydrobromic acid at 48%, 60% and 62% aqueous and as 33% HBr in acetic acid, in gallons, pails, drums, totes and bulk, with same-day quotes. Bromine producers sell bulk contract volume, and laboratory catalog suppliers sell bottles.
Can 48% hydrobromic acid be shipped by air?
Yes, in limited quantities. Under 49 CFR 172.101, hydrobromic acid with not more than 49% HBr is limited to 1 L per package on passenger aircraft and 30 L on cargo aircraft in packing group II (5 L and 60 L in packing group III). Above 49% HBr it is forbidden on both.
What is the UN number for hydrobromic acid?
UN1788, hazard class 8, packing group II or III depending on the solution, with emergency response guide 154 for the solution, according to the 49 CFR 172.101 table and the NIOSH Pocket Guide.
What is the exposure limit for hydrogen bromide?
The OSHA PEL is 3 ppm as an 8-hour TWA, the NIOSH REL is a 3 ppm ceiling, and the IDLH is 30 ppm.
Is HBr in acetic acid the same as hydrobromic acid?
No. Hydrobromic acid is HBr in water. HBr in acetic acid is hydrogen bromide dissolved in acetic acid and is used where water must be excluded, such as peptide deprotection.
Get a same-day hydrobromic acid quote from RightPath Industries for 48%, 60%, 62% or HBr in acetic acid, in the pack size you need.