Ethyl Bromide: Alcohol, Sulphuric Acid and Potassium Bromide

Ethyl bromide is a heavy, very volatile liquid boiling at 38 °C, the classic first preparation of organic chemistry. Gattermann (1914): alcohol and sulphuric acid with potassium bromide, distilled into ice water; the bromide sinks, is washed, dried and redistilled. 100 g of potassium bromide give 70 to 80 g. It boils away at room warmth: keep it in thick bottles. The picture: our own drawing.