Sodium bromide is colorless cubic crystals or white crystalline powder, odorless, with a salty and slightly bitter taste. It is hygroscopic, prone to caking in air but not deliquescent. Its aqueous solution is neutral. It can be oxidized by strong oxidizing agents to liberate elemental bromine, and reacts with silver nitrate to form a pale yellow precipitate of silver bromide.

1. Pharmaceutical field: Formerly used as sedative and anticonvulsant; used in the synthesis of bromine-containing pharmaceuticals and veterinary preparations.
2. Photosensitive materials: For the production of silver bromide photographic emulsions for photographic films and papers.
3. Petroleum industry: As drilling fluid additive to increase the density and stability of drilling fluids.
4. Water treatment: For pool disinfection, sterilization and algae control in industrial circulating water.
5. Chemical raw material: For the preparation of other bromides, dye intermediates and components of flame retardants.