Hydroiodic acid
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Through Chemical formula, Hydrogen and Iodine
Preparation
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Reactions
Hydroiodic acid reacts with oxygen in air to give iodine:
- 4 HI(aq) + O2 → 2 H2O + 2 I2
Like hydrogen halides, hydroiodic acid adds to alkenes to give alkyl iodides. It can also be used as a reducing agent, for example in the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to anilines.
Cativa process
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 (recovered from nasal decongestant pills).