Bromine Element
The element Bromine, is a red liquid which is explosive at room
temperature and
has a red brown vapour. It has an atomic number of 35 and an
atomic mass of
79.909. The melting point of Bromine is -7 deg.C and the
boiling point is 58
degC with a relative density of 3.1. Bromine is a
volatile dense mobile, that is
a reddish brown liquid, which quickly gives a
brown toxic valour with a
disagreeable irritating odour. It combines directly
with most elements although
heat or a reactant is often neccessary to start
some reactions. Hydrobomic Acid
and Hypobromous Acid is a mixture that is
formed when Bromine reacts with water.
Oxygen is liberated by Bromine
when the resulting solution is heated or exposed
to strong sunlight. A
solution to Bromine in water is called Bromine Water,
which is used as a test
reagent in organic chemistry to identify unsaturated
compounds. Bromine
resembles Chlorine in many of its properties, but is less
active. Because of
its reactivity, Bromine does not exist in the free elemental
state in nature,
but small quantities are combined in many silver ores. Bromine
salts are
found in seawater and in the salts deposits in Strassfurt. Compounds
of
Bromine also occurs in marine animals and plants. Bromine is used in a
wide
range of industries. It is used in the manufacture of
1,2-DibromoEthane,
CH2BrCH2Br, which is used as a petrol additive to
prevent lead being deposited
in the cylinders. The manufacture of compounds
used in photography and the
manufacture of dyestuffs and drugs is another use
of bromine. Bromine is used in
the analytical laboratory in testing for
unsaturation in organic compounds,
where it adds across the multiple bonds of
unsaturated compounds.