| Group | 17 | Melting point | -7.2 oC, 19.04 oF, 265.95 K |
| Period | 4 | Boiling point | 58.8 oC, 137.84 oF, 331.95 K |
| Block | p | Density (kg m-3) | 3120 |
| Atomic number | 35 | Relative atomic mass | 79.904 |
| State at room temperature | Liquid | Key isotopes | 79Br |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d104s24p5 | CAS number | 7726-95-6 |
| ChemSpider ID | 4514586 | ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database | |
Image explanation
The image intends to reflect the rich colour, liquidity and aromatic nature of the element.
Appearance
A deep-red, oily liquid with a sharp smell, it is poisonous and corrosive to skin. It is extracted from natural brines and sea water and is used in industry to make fuels and additives, insecticides and pharmaceuticals, and to make bromide salts for photography. It has been suggested that some bromine in the form of bromide is essential to health, but this has not been proved. The use of bromide salts as sedatives and to depress sexual desire has now been discontinued because the compounds are slightly toxic.
Uses
Bromine is used in many areas such as agricultural chemicals, dyestuffs, chemical intermediates and flame-retardants. Most is used to prepare 1 ,2-di-bromoethane which is used as an anti-knock agent in combustion engines.
Biological role
Bromine has no known biological role. It has an irritating effect on the eyes and throat, and produces painful sores when in contact with the skin.
Natural abundance
Bromine is extracted from natural brine deposits in the USA and elsewhere. It was the first element to be extracted from seawater, but this is no longer economically viable as seawater contains only 65 parts per million of bromine.
| Atomic radius, non-bonded (Å) | 1.850 | Covalent radius (Å) | 1.17 |
| Electron affinity (kJ mol-1) | 324.577 |
Electronegativity (Pauling scale) |
2.960 |
|
Ionisation energies (kJ mol-1) |
1st
1139.858
2nd
2083.213
3rd
3473.469
4th
4563.753
5th
5760.170
6th
8548.594
7th
9937.981
8th
18602.358
|
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| Covalent bonds |
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| Common oxidation states | 7, 5, 3, 1, -1 | ||||
| Isotopes | Isotope | Atomic mass | Natural abundance (%) | Half life | Mode of decay |
| 79Br | 78.918 | 50.69 | - | - | |
| 81Br | 80.916 | 49.31 | - | - | |
|
Molar heat capacity (J mol-1 K-1) |
75.69 | Young's modulus (GPa) | Unknown | |||||||||||
| Shear modulus (GPa) | Unknown | Bulk modulus (GPa) | 1.9 | |||||||||||
| Vapour pressure | ||||||||||||||
| Temperature (K) |
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| Pressure (Pa) |
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Videos of the elements. Additional videos will be coming in 2012.
Images: Visual Elements © Murray Robertson 2011
Mining and Sourcing data: British Geological Survey – natural environment research council.
Text: John Emsley Nature’s Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements, Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2011.
Data: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, 92nd Edition, 2011.
G. W. C. Kaye and T. H. Laby Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, Longman, 16th Edition, 1995.
Members of the RSC can access these books through our library.
Mining and Sourcing data: British Geological Survey – natural environment research council.
Text: John Emsley Nature’s Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements, Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition, 2011.
Data: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, 92nd Edition, 2011.
G. W. C. Kaye and T. H. Laby Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, Longman, 16th Edition, 1995.
Members of the RSC can access these books through our library.
