How It’s Used Hydrogen bromide is a colorless or faint yellow gas with a sharp, irritating odor. When dissolved in water it becomes hydrobromic acid. HBr is used in the manufacture of inorganic bromides, as employed in photographic, pharmaceutical, industrial drying, textile finishing, and fire retardant applications. The compound is also used to etch poly-silicon … Continue reading Hydrogen Bromide—and Hydrogen Bromide Monitoring Instrumentation