Hydroiodic acid (or hydriodic acid) is a colorless liquid. It is an aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide with the chemical formula HI(aq). It is a strong acid, in which hydrogen iodide is ionized completely in an aqueous solution. Concentrated aqueous solutions of hydrogen iodide are usually 48% to 57% HI by mass.

Preparation

Reactions

Hydroiodic acid reacts with oxygen in air to give iodine: 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).