What is Bromine?
Bromine is a naturally-occurring element characterized by brownish-red color. It is liquid at room temperature, easily dissolves in water, and has an odor similar to that of bleach. Of all non-metallic elements, bromine is the only one that remains liquid under ordinary conditions. It shares the same compounds as halogens.
Where is Bromine obtained?
Bromine is present in the earth’s crust, seawater, and in chemical forms. it does not exist in free elements and its number in nature is not that much when compared with other elements. The largest amount of bromine is harvested from salt deposits like the dead sea, deep water reserves, and oil brines. In minerals, bromine can be obtained in silver ores bromargyrite, iodobromite, and embrolite.
History of Bromine
Bromine was discovered by Antoine-Jérôme Balard. He was investigating salty water from Montpellier, France. What he did was he had a concentrated residue of salty water and pass chlorine gas into it. he was able to liberate liquid that is orange-red in color and note that it was a new element. He sent the details of his findings to the journal of the French Academy in 1826.
Classification, Properties, and Characteristics of Bromine
Bromine in pure form is diatomic. It’s the only non-metallic element that is in liquid form at the usual temperature. It is reddish-brown, dense, and will evaporate easily at the usual temperature. It is somewhat similar to chlorine in odor but is less reactive. It acts as a bleaching agent and can easily form compounds with other elements.
Lewis Dot Structure of Bromine
Bohr’s Atomic Model
Atomic Data of Bromine
Physical Properties of Bromine
| Color | Reddish brown |
| Odor | Bleach-like Odor |
| Taste | Tasteless |
| Atomic Mass | 79.904 |
| Weight | [79.901, 79.907] |
| Density | 3.1028 |
| Atomic Radius | 1.85Å |
| Ionization Energy | 1139.859kJ mol−1 |
| Covalent Radius | 1.17Å |
| Ionic Radius | 0.195 nm (-1) |
| Electronic Gain Enthalpy | 324.537kJ mol−1 |
| Electron Negativity | 2.96 |
| Electron Affinity | 324.537kJ mol−1 |
| Melting Point | −7.2 °C (19 °F) |
| Boiling Point | 59 °C (138 °F) |
Chemical Properties of Bromine
| Atomic Number | 35 |
| Group | 17 |
| Period | 4 |
| Block | p |
| Electronic Configuration | (Ar)3d104s24p5 |
| Combustion | Non-Combustible |
| Chemical Reactivity | Moderately Reactive |
| Valency of Element | 1 |
Different States of Bromine
Bromine is liquid and its common oxidation state is -1. It is liquid at room temperature but will solidify once desired temperature is reached.
Uses of Bromine
- Bromine is useful in agriculture as it is primarily used to make agricultural chemicals.
- It is used as an insecticide.
- It acts as a chemical intermediary.
- It is used as a flame retardant. Many products have bromine to make them less flammable such as plastic casings for electronics, furniture foams, and textiles.
- Bromine compounds like organobromides are used in halon fire extinguishers. These products are used to extinguish fires in significant places like tanks, airplanes, and museums.
- A bromide compound, specifically silver bromide is one of the chemicals used in film photography.
- Some pools use bromine to kill bacteria because of its mild scent. It is milder than chlorine, but chlorine is more effective in killing bacteria.
- It has pharmaceutical significance. It is used to treat epilepsy and other medical conditions requiring sedation. However, it should only be used under medical supervision to ensure proper dosing.
Price of Bromine
The cost of pure bromine is $5 per 100 grams. Although the price fluctuates depending on supply and demand. The cost is also cheaper when purchasing in bulk.
Interesting facts about Bromine
- Bromine is derived from “bromos”, a Greek word for the stench. Yes, it’s stinky, which is typical of acids.
- Elemental bromine is toxic. When exposed to the skin, it causes corrosion burns. It can cause irritation when inhaled in low concentration. It can be extremely fatal when inhaled in high concentrations.
- Although mostly toxic, bromine is vital for animals, specifically in collagen synthesis.
- Xylyl bromide was used as a poison gas during World War I.
- Don’t you know that bromine ranked 10th in the list of the most abundant elements in seawater and 64th in the most abundant element in the earth’s crust?
- Elemental bromine is one of the only two elements that are liquid at room temperature.
- Tyrian Purple, an ancient royal purple, is actually a compound of bromine.
- Don’t you know that a bromine compound, ethylene bromide was used in leaded fuels because of its ability to prevent engine knock
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is bromine a dangerous element?
Bromine has many uses but is wary because elemental bromine is toxic to humans. It can cause chemical burns when gets in contact with the skin. More so, inhalation of bromine gas can irritate the throat and respiratory system as a whole. it can cause respiratory-related symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, and choking. If inhaled in large quantity could lead to death.
Q2. What safety measures must be observed when handling bromine?
One of the issues with bromine is that it is incompatible with the majority of compounds, both organic and inorganic. It acts as a potent oxidizing agent. When handling and transporting bromine, extreme caution must be observed. When transporting bromine, a steel tank must be used, and it should be filled with lead. It is a must to ensure that bromine is stored in a container that has a strong metal framework.
Q3. What reaction removes bromine?
The only reaction that gets rid of bromine is the elimination reaction. In this type of reaction, the hydroxide ion hits the atoms in the methyl group and pulls it off leading the electron pair movements to cascade. The end result is a carbon-carbon double bond and eventually loss of bromine.
Q4. What is the best solvent for bromine?
Bromine is highly soluble in organic solvents but slightly soluble in water. Organic solvents that serve as the best solvents for bromine include acetic acid, carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulfide, and aliphatic alcohol.
Q5. How is bromine stored?
When storing bromine, you have to make sure you keep the lid tightly closed and place it in a dry and well-ventilated area. Avoid placing bromide in polyethylene containers.
References
- https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/bromine/basics/facts
- https://www.britannica.com/science/bromine
- https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/35/bromine
- https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/br.htm
- https://www.thoughtco.com/bromine-element-facts-606510
- https://www.chemicool.com/elements/bromine.html
- https://www.factsjustforkids.com/chemistry-facts/bromine-facts-for-kids/
- https://byjus.com/chemistry/bromine/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-bromine-definition-facts-uses.html
- https://www.idealresponse.co.uk/blog/what-is-bromine/