MCQ Detailed View

Silver bromide (AgBr) is an inorganic compound formed by the reaction of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) with a bromide salt, such as sodium bromide (NaBr) or potassium bromide (KBr). When this reaction takes place, a precipitate of silver bromide appears. The distinctive color of this precipitate is light yellow.

The color of silver halide precipitates is an important characteristic in qualitative inorganic analysis. Each silver halide has its own identifiable color:

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  Silver chloride (AgCl) forms a white precipitate.

  
  


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  Silver bromide (AgBr) forms a light yellow precipitate.

  
  


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  Silver iodide (AgI) forms a bright yellow precipitate.

  
  

This color difference is widely used in laboratories to distinguish between chloride, bromide, and iodide ions in unknown samples.

Silver bromide has another important property: it is photosensitive. When exposed to light, AgBr undergoes decomposition, releasing free silver metal and bromine gas. This light sensitivity made silver bromide a key compound in the history of photography, where it was used in photographic films and papers.

Other options listed in the question do not match the actual precipitate color of AgBr. It is neither light brown, green, nor blue. The correct and well-established description is light yellow.

In analytical chemistry, the test for halide ions using silver nitrate solution is one of the simplest and most reliable experiments for ion identification. Observing the precipitate color helps chemists determine which halide ion is present in a solution.

Therefore, the precipitate of silver bromide (AgBr) is characterized by a light yellow color, which serves as a distinguishing property of this compound in inorganic chemistry.