BROMINE (Br)

-atomic number: 35
- from the Greek word bromos meaning stench (strong,
offensive odor)
- discovered by Antoine-Jrme Balard in Montpellier, France
and Carl Lwig in Heidelberg, Germany, 1826
- member of halogen family
- 64th most abundant element in the Earth's crust with an
abundance of 2.4 mg/kg.
- 10th most abundant element in sea water with an abundance
of 67.3 mg/L

Physical properties:
Bromine is the only nonmetallic liquid element
At room temperature, bromine is a deep reddish-brown liquid
metallic luster in solid form
it evaporates easily at standard temperature and pressures in a red
vapor that has a strong disagreeable odor and is irritating to the
skin, eyes, and respiratory system
soluble in organic solvents and in water
Chemical Properties:
Bromine is a very reactive element. While it is less reactive than
flourine or chlorine, it is more reactive than iodine.
Sources of Bromine:
Occurs in compounds in sea water, Dead Sea, natural brines and
salt-lake evaporates

Uses:
agricultural chemicals dyestuffs, insecticides, pesticides,
pharmaceuticals and chemical intermediates.
Use as flame retardants. They are added to furniture foam,
plastic casings for electronics and textiles to make them less
flammable.
Organobromides are used in halon fire extinguishers that are
used to fight fires in places.
Silver bromide is a chemical used in film photography.
Before leaded fuels were phased out, bromine was used to
prepare 1,2-di-bromoethane, which was an anti-knock agent
Bromide compounds used to be used as sedatives

 It is used as water purifier/disinfectant. Brominated

compounds are used for water treatment in swimming pools
and hot tubs.
They are also used to control algae and bacterial growth in
industrial processes.
Pharmacologic use:
- Brominated substance are important ingredients of many OTC
and prescription drugs including analgesics, sedative, and
antihistamines.
- They are active ingredients in several drugs that treat
pneumonia and cocaine addiction.

COMPOUND

FORMULA

USES

Methyl Bromide

CH3Br

- Use as pesticides

Ethylene dibromide

Bromine Monochloride

Hypobromite

C2 H4Br2

BrCl

BrO

- Helps fuel burn more

cleanly and keeps car
engine from knocking
- used as a biocide,
specifically as
an algaecide, fungicide,
and disinfectant, in
industrial recirculating
cooling water systems
- used as a germicide and
antiparasitic in both
industrial applications,
and in the immune
system

Toxic effects of Bromine

- Bromine is corrosive to human tissue in a liquid state and its
vapors irritate eyes and throat.
- Bromine vapors are very toxic with inhalation
- malfunctioning of the nervous system and disturbances in
genetic materials.
- organic bromines can also cause damage to organs such as
liver, kidneys, lungs and they can cause stomach and
gastrointestinal malfunctioning
- Some forms of organic bromines, such as ethylene bromine,
can even cause cancer.
- Elemental bromine is a toxic substance and can cause corrosion
burns when exposed to skin.
- Cause thyroid problems

Publication:
http://noharm.org/lib/downloads/bfrs/BFRs_Rising_
Concern.pdf

Sources:
Http://www.Bromine-info.Org/bromine-applications/
Http://chemistry.About.Com/od/elementfacts/a/bromi
ne.Htm
Http://www.Chemistryexplained.Com/elements/A-C/b
romine.Html
Http://www.Rsc.Org/periodic-table/element/35/bromin
e
Http://www.Lenntech.Com/periodic/elements/br.Htm