Here's why:

* Reaction with Bromine: While NaOH can react with bromine, the reaction produces sodium bromide (NaBr) and sodium hypobromite (NaOBr), both of which are soluble in water. This means the resulting solution will still contain bromine in some form, making it not a suitable absorber.

* Formation of Bromine Gas: In the reaction with NaOH, bromine can also be oxidized to form bromate ions (BrO₃⁻), which can further react with bromide ions (Br⁻) to produce bromine gas (Br₂) again. This defeats the purpose of absorption.

* Alternative Methods: To effectively absorb bromine, you should use solutions of sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) or potassium iodide (KI). These reagents react with bromine to form non-volatile compounds, effectively removing it from the gas phase.

Therefore, sodium hydroxide is not a suitable absorber for bromine due to the formation of soluble reaction products and the potential for bromine gas regeneration.