Hydroiodic acid
Hydroiodic acid is a highly acidic aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide
. It is the second strongest hydrohalic acid, after hydroastatic acid. Hydroiodic acid is a commonly used chemical reagent and is one of the strong acids that ionize completely in an aqueous solution.Reactions
Hydroiodic acid readily reacts with oxygen in air, contributing to the deep colours associated with old samples;
Like other halogens, hydroiodic acid will perform addition reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons such as alkenes. It can also be used as a reducing agent, for example in the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to anilines.The Cativa process is a major end use of hydroiodic acid, which serves as a co-catalyst for the production of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol.
Illicit uses
Hydroiodic acid is listed as a U.S. Federal DEA List I Chemical, owing to its use as a reducing agent related to the production of methamphetamine from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
