The NaBr and H2SO4 produces nearly all Br2, relatively little HBr:
NaBr (s) + H2SO4 (l) HBr (g) + NaHSO4 (s)
2HBr (g) + H2SO4 (l) Br2 (g) + SO2 (g) + 2H2O (l)
In SWIMs experimental procedures, even producing the gas in an ice water bath or with chilled acid results in load of Br2 and very little HBr (HBr is colorless but goes cloudy white on exposure to air, white wisps in red gas signify small amt.s of HBr in with Br2)
SWIMs other experiemnt was HCl + NaBr. This resulted in an extremely small amount of redish gas (it looked yellow at low conc.), and a whole lot of gas that went cloudy white when hitting the air. Just to check that this wasn't HCl gas, it didn't react with ammonia vapor. SWIM is almost sure that this is HBr, chemistry chat rooms have agreed.
This gas was bubbled into sassy, which started out yellow and then went green progressing then into dark green. Small amounts of red oil were viewed in splashes on the upper portion of the test tube, but the majority of the sol'n was dark green, almost black. These color changes are nearly exactly what's to be expected when bromosafrole is made with KBr and DMSO. Interesting, what do you think? Also, see thread in chemistry forum "HBr bubbly bubbly"
PS, closer examination has revealed that the oil is indeed redish, but very very very dark, probably contanminated by gas generator, bubble-tube was stainless steel, but has given problems before.
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