Caesium bromide

Caesium Bromide

Caesium bromide (CsBr) is an inorganic compound consisting of caesium and bromine. It is a white crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and is used in various applications, including as a scintillation detector and in optics.

Properties

Caesium bromide is a halide salt with the chemical formula CsBr. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system, similar to the structure of sodium chloride. The compound is known for its high density and refractive index, making it useful in optical applications.

• Molecular Weight: 212.81 g/mol
• Melting Point: 636 °C
• Boiling Point: 1,300 °C
• Density: 4.44 g/cm³
• Solubility: Highly soluble in water

Applications

Caesium bromide is used in several specialized applications:

• Scintillation Detectors: CsBr is used in scintillation detectors for gamma-ray spectroscopy. Its high density and atomic number make it effective at stopping and detecting high-energy photons.

• Optics: Due to its high refractive index, caesium bromide is used in infrared optics and as a beam splitter in certain optical devices.

• Medical Imaging: CsBr is sometimes used in medical imaging technologies, such as X-ray imaging, due to its ability to enhance image contrast.

Production

Caesium bromide can be synthesized by the reaction of caesium hydroxide (CsOH) with hydrobromic acid (HBr):

\[ \text{CsOH} + \text{HBr} \rightarrow \text{CsBr} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]

Alternatively, it can be produced by the direct reaction of caesium metal with bromine gas:

\[ 2\text{Cs} + \text{Br}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{CsBr} \]

Safety

Caesium bromide is generally considered to be of low toxicity, but it should be handled with care. As with other caesium compounds, it can be irritating to the skin and eyes, and ingestion should be avoided.

Also see

• Caesium
• Bromine
• Scintillation detector
• Optical materials