Zirconium Bromide, ZrBr₄

Zirconium Bromide, ZrBr₄, resembles the chloride in its manner of formation and properties. It is formed by passing bromine vapour with carbon dioxide gas over a heated mixture of zirconia and carbon, or over red-hot zirconium or its carbide. It is a white, crystalline powder which dissolves in water, forming the oxybromide ZrOBr₂; it forms with ammonia gas at 16° C. the compound ZrBr₄.10NH₃ (Stahler and Denk), and absorbs ammonia in ethereal solution, forming ZrBr₄.4NH₃. The bromide also combines with ethylamine, aniline, and pyridine, and forms the pyridinium salt (C₅H₅NH)₂ZrBr₆.