Chemical Fact Sheet
Bromine
| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) | 7726-95-6 |
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| Synonyms | BROM- (GERMAN); BROME- (FRENCH); BROMO- (ITALIAN); BROOM- (DUTCH); Bromine-solution; Bromo- (Spanish); Caswell-No-112; EPA-Pesticide-Chemical-Code-008701 |
| Analytical Methods | SM4500BR |
| Molecular Formula | Br |
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Synopsis
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Bromine - (Gr. bromos, stench), Br; at. wt. 79.904(1); at. no. 35; m.p. -7.2 deg C; b.p. 58.78 deg C; density of gas 7.59 g/l, liquid 3.12 (20 deg C); valence 1, 3, 5, or 7. Discovered by Balard in 1826, but not prepared in quantity until 1860. A member of the halogen group of elements, it is obtained from natural brines from wells in Michigan and Arkansas. Little bromine is extracted today from seawater, which contains only about 85 ppm. Bromine is the only liquid nonmetallic 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. Much of the bromine output in the U.S. was used in the production of ethylene dibromide, a lead scavenger used in making gasoline antiknock compounds. Lead in gasoline, however, has been drastically reduced, due to environmental considerations. This will greatly affect future production of bromine. Bromine is also used in making fumigants, flameproofing agents, water purification compounds, dyes, medicinals, sanitizers, inorganic bromides for photography, etc. Organic bromides are also important. Natural bromine is made of two isotopes, 79Br and 81Br. Thirty three isotopes and isomers are known. Bromine costs about $100/kg. |
| Use | FOR GOLD EXTRACTION; MILITARY GAS; BLEACHING FIBERS & SILK; MANUFACTURE OF MEDICINAL BROMINE CMPD & MANUFACTURE OF ANTI-KNOCK CMPD (ETHYLENE BROMIDE) FOR GASOLINE FIRE-RETARDANT FOR PLASTICS; IN PHOTOGRAPHY; SHRINK-PROOFING WOOL; IN ORG SYNTHESIS; SOLVENT; INTERMED FOR FUMIGANTS; FIRE-EXTINGUISHING FLUID; ANALYTICAL REAGENT CHEMICAL INTERMED FOR ETHYL BROMIDE, METHYL BROMIDE, ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, OTHER BROMINE CMPD & SALTS; IN BLEACHING AGENTS, DISINFECTING AGENTS INTERMED IN MANUFACTURE OF SEDATIVES, ANESTHETICS, ANTISPASMODIC AGENTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, REFRIGERATING & DEHUMIDIFYING AGENTS, HAIR-WAVING PREPARATION FORMERLY AS TOPICAL ANTISEPTIC, DEODORANT Dyes; oil & gas well drilling & completion fluids |
| Consumption Patterns | 76% AS AN INTERMED FOR ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE, METHYL BROMIDE, CHLOROBROMOMETHANE, AND TRIFLUOROBROMOMETHANE; 14% IN SANITATION PROCESSES; AND 10% IN MISC INTERMED APPLICATIONS (1971) Flame retardants, 30%; Completion drilling fluids (ie calcium bromide), 28%; Ethylene dibromide, 20%; Agricultural chemicals, primarily methyl bromide, 10%; Exports, 4%; Miscellaneous, especially pool and water treatment chemicals, 8% (1985) |
| Apparent Color | DARK REDDISH-BROWN LIQ; REDDISH-BROWN VAPOR; RHOMBIC CRYSTALS |
| Odor | SUFFOCATING; Bleachy, penetrating |
| Boiling Point | 58.78 DEG C |
| Melting Point | -7.25 DEG C |
| Molecular Weight | 159.808 |
| Density | 3.1023 @ 25 DEG C/4 DEG C |
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Odor Threshold Concentration |
DETECTABLE ODOR OCCURS @ ABOUT 3.5 PPM Odor low 0.329 mg/cu m; Odor high 24.5 mg/cu m |
| Sensitivity Data | VERY IRRITATING TO EYES & RESPIRATORY TRACT. LACRIMATION OCCURS AT LESS THAN 1 PPM & RESPIRATORY DAMAGE OCCURS AT 10 PPM. Liquid bromine penetrates the tissue rapidly and produces eruptions, irritations, and painful injuries which heal slowly. Irritating concn 2.10 mg/cu m |
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Chemical and Physical Properties |
NATURAL ISOTOPES: 79 (50.54%); 81 (49.46%); ATOMIC NUMBER 35; ELEMENTAL STATE: BR2; VALENCES 1 TO 7 DIATOMIC LIQ; HEAT CAPACITY (LIQ, 25 DEG C): 18.089 CAL/MOLE DEG; DISSOCIATION ENERGY AT 25 DEG C: 46.072 KCAL; KNOWN ISOTOPES RANGE IN MASS NUMBER FROM 74-90; RADIOACTIVE TRACER ELEMENTS: 77, 80, 80M (METASTABLE), 82 DENSITY OF GAS: 7.59 G/L ONLY NONMETALLIC ELEMENT THAT IS LIQUID @ NORMAL TEMP & PRESSURES STRONG OXIDANT PARTICULARLY IN PRESENCE OF WATER WT/GAL= 25.7 LB; SPECIFIC HEAT: 0.107 CAL/G; DIELECTRIC CONSTANT: 3.2 VAPOR (GAS) SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 5.5 AT 20 DEG C 1 MG/L= 152 PPM, 1 PPM= 6.53 MG/CU M AT 25 DEG C, 760 MM HG |
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Environmental Impact |
ESCAPE OF BROMINE INTO WORKPLACE AIR IS MAIN TOXIC HAZARD DURING PRODUCTION. The most common cause of bromism (a condition associated with excessive tissue levels of bromide ions) is the abuse of bromide containing patent medicines, although occupational exposure and ingestion of well water with high bromide levels may also lead to the onset of the condition. |
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Environmental Fate |
ABUNDANCE IN IGNEOUS ROCK: 1.6X10-4% BY WT; IN SEAWATER 0.0065% BY WT. It does not occur in nature in pure form because of its high reactivity but is found as a normal secondary component of chlorine in minerals and biological systems. A pure bromine-containing mineral is found in Mexico as bromite (AgBr).Traces of bromine & lead were detected in air from automobile exhaust gases. Studies on the determination of avg contents of bromine in soils & plants of Japan, forests of the Andosol region of Central Honshu were evaluated. The avg content of bromine in soils of grasslands, orchards & upland crop fields were 10 fold higher than those recorded from overseas. The avg content in these soils was higher than those recorded in forest soil of the basins of the Miomote & Nagara Rivers (Japan). The avg values reported in the leaves of plants in Miomote & Nagara Rivers was 12 ppm. The contents of iodine & bromine in the forest soil, plants & rainwater were generally higher in coastal than in the inland areas. The contents of three elements in the soils & plants were evaluated with emphasis placed on the difference of the land utilization in the basin of the Nagara River. The avg content of bromine in soils of the forest from the basin of the Nagara River was almost 10 fold higher than those reported outside of Japan (63 ppm). This was similar to avg level found in the Miomote River. In paddy soils, the bromine content was more than 10 times lower than in the former (plow layer; 3.3 ppm). These findings were ascribed to the eluviation of iodine & bromine from the soil under submerged conditions. The concn factor (content in plant leaves/content in soil surface (horizon A or plow layer) in dry wt basis, for wild plants was 0.10 ppm; in paddy rice, 6.2 ppm. The contents of the three elements were evaluated according to land utilization in the basin of the Miomote River. The avg contents of bromine in soils of the forest & upland fields were almost 10 times higher than those recorded from overseas. In paddy soils bromine content was more than 10 times lower (plow layer; 7.0 ppm) than in former. These findings were ascribed to the eluviation of iodine & bromine from the soil under submerged conditions. The concentration factor in wild plants (content in leaves of plant per dry wt/content in horizon-A of soil,on dry wt basis was 0.37. Studies on the determination of avg contents of bromine in soils & plants of Japan, forests of the Andosol region of Central Honshu were evaluated. The avg content of bromine in soils of grasslands, orchards & upland crop fields were 10 fold higher than those recorded from overseas. The avg content in these soils was higher than those recorded in forest soil of the basins of the Miomote & Nagara Rivers (Japan). The avg values reported in the leaves of plants in Miomote & Nagara Rivers was 12 ppm. The contents of iodine & bromine in the forest soil, plants & rainwater were generally higher in coastal than in the inland areas. The contents of three elements in the soils & plants were evaluated with emphasis placed on the difference of the land utilization in the basin of the Nagara River. The avg content of bromine in soils of the forest from the basin of the Nagara River was almost 10 fold higher than those reported outside of Japan (63 ppm). This was similar to avg level found in the Miomote River. In paddy soils, the bromine content was more than 10 times lower than in the former (plow layer; 3.3 ppm). These findings were ascribed to the eluviation of iodine & bromine from the soil under submerged conditions. The concn factor (content in plant leaves/content in soil surface (horizon A or plow layer) in dry wt basis, for wild plants was 0.10 ppm; in paddy rice, 6.2 ppm. The contents of the three elements were evaluated according to land utilization in the basin of the Miomote River. The avg contents of bromine in soils of the forest & upland fields were almost 10 times higher than those recorded from overseas. In paddy soils bromine content was more than 10 times lower (plow layer; 7.0 ppm) than in former. These findings were ascribed to the eluviation of iodine & bromine from the soil under submerged conditions. The concentration factor in wild plants (content in leaves of plant per dry wt/content in horizon-A of soil,on dry wt basis was 0.37. |
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Drinking Water Impact |
Searles Lake in CA is reported to contain 0.085% bromide, other sources are brine wells the richest are found in Arkansas & Michigan. Dead Sea is estimated to contain 1 billion tons of bromine; seawater contains about 65 ppm bromine; underground water content in Poland has an estimated 36 million tons of bromine content. |
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Disposal |
At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. BY ABSORBING IT IN VERMICULITE, DRY SAND, EARTH, OR A SIMILAR MATERIAL & DISPOSING IN SEALED CONTAINERS IN SECURED SANITARY LANDFILL. |
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Atmosphere |
In an abnormal urban atmospheric situation, an exceptionally increased lead concentration which had no relationship to traffic modification was found. Other sources were detected by using simultaneous studies of granulometric distribution & concentrations of lead & bromine. Lead & bromine particles were detected in air from automobile exhaust gases. The particulates were produced by the internal combustion engine which used leaded premium gasoline. |
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