Accordingly, one should always wear safety goggles and ensure adequate ventilation when handling bromine.
|
Atomic Number: |
35 |
Melting Point: | -7.2 ºC | |
Atomic Symbol: | Br | Boiling Point: | 58.8 ºC | ||
Atomic Weight: | 79.904 amu | Density: | 3119
kg/m 3 |
||
Atomic Radius: |
115 pm |
Oxidation States: | 5, 1, -1 | ||
Covalent Radius: | 114 pm | Electron Configuration: | [Ar]4s23d104p5 | ||
van der Waals Radius: |
185 pm |
State of Matter: | solid (at STP) |
(Gr. bromos: stench) Discovered by Balard at salt marshes of Montpellier in 1826, but not prepared in quantity until 1860.
Bromine is the only nonmetallic liquid element. It is a heavy, mobile, reddish-brown liquid, volatilizing readily at room temperature to a red vapor with a strong disagreeable odor, resembling chlorine, and having a very irritating effect on the eyes and throat; it is readily soluble in water or carbon disulfide, forming a red solution, is less active than chlorine but more so than iodine; it unites readily with many elements and has a bleaching action; when spilled on the skin it produces painful sores. It presents a serious health hazard, and maximum safety precautions should be taken when handling it.
A member of the halogen group, bromine is obtained from natural brines from wells in Michigan and Arkansas. Some bromine is extracted today from seawater, which contains only about 85 ppm.
Bromine is used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, water purification compounds, dyes, medicines, sanitizers, inorganic bromides for photography, etc. Organic bromides are also important.
Bromine is used to make brominated vegetable oil, which is used as an emulsifier in many citrus-flavored soft drinks.
Bromine has several isotopes, with the most significant ranging in half lifes from a few minutes to several hours.
Accordingly, one should always wear safety goggles and ensure adequate ventilation when handling bromine.