Bromine

Bromine is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Br and atomic number 35. A halogen element, bromine is a red volatile liquid at room temperature which has a reactivity between chlorine and iodine. This element is harmful to human tissue in a liquid state and its vapor irritates eyes and throat.

Notable Characteristics

Bromine is the only liquid nonmetallic element at room temperature. It is a heavy, mobile, reddish-brown liquid, that evaporates easily at standard temperature and pressures in a red vapor (its color resembles nitrogen dioxide) that has a strong disagreeable odor. A halogen, bromine resembles chlorine chemically but is less active (it is more active than iodine however). Bromine is very soluble in water or carbon disulfide (forming a red solution). It bonds easily with many elements and has a strong bleaching action.

Bromine is highly reactive and is a powerful oxidizing agent in the presence of water. It reacts vigorously with amines, alkenes and phenols as well as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones and acids (these are brominated by either addition or substitution). With many of the metals and elements, anhydrous bromine is less reactive than wet bromine; however, dry bromine reacts vigorously with aluminum, titanium, mercury as as well as alkaline earth and alkaline metals.

Applications

Elemental bromine is used to manufacture a wide variety of bromine compounds used in industry and agriculture. Traditionally the largest use of bromine was in the production of ethylene dibromide which in turn was used as a gasoline anti-knock agent for leaded gasolines before they were largely phased out due to environmental considerations.
Bromine is also used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, water purification compounds, dyes, medicinals, sanitizes, inorganic bromides for photography, etc.

History

Bromine (Gr. bromos for stench) was discovered by Antoine Balard in 1826 but was not produced in quantity until 1860.

Occurrence

Bromine occurs in nature as bromide salts in very diffuse amounts in crustal rock. Due to leaching bromide salts have accumulated in sea water (85 ppm), and may be economically recovered from brine wells and the Dead Sea (up to 5000 ppm).
Approximately 500 million kilograms ($350 million USD) of bromine are produced per year (2001) worldwide with the United States and Israel being the primary producers.

Precautions

Elemental bromine is highly toxic, and touch or breathing more than trace amounts (10 ppm) can cause immediate health problems or death. Bromine is very irritating to both eyes and throat produces painful sores after making contact with skin. Improper handling of this element can be a serious health hazard requiring maximum safety precautions.

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