184
The Halogen Group
Forms
Bromine
Br
35
35 35 45
State: Liquid
Discovery: 1826
Bromine is the only non-metal that is
a liquid at room temperature. A thick
vapour given off by this liquid is dangerous
if breathed in. Pure bromine is never found
in nature. Its compounds can easily mix in
water, and are found dissolved in seawater
and extremely salty lakes, such as the Dead
Sea in the Middle East. Solid bromine salts,
including potassium bromide, collect as
the water evaporates away, leaving behind
crusts of white crystals. Bromine can then
be extracted from the solid salts. A common
Pu
re
b
ro
mi
ne
This sealed glass container
prevents bromine vapour
Bromine vapour from escaping.
Bromine
is named after
the Greek word for
“stench”
because of its
strong smell.
Pure bromine is
a red-brown liquid.
in
a
g
la
ss
sp
he
re
Po
ta
ss
iu
m
(^) b
ro
m
id
e
184-185_Bromine.indd 184 02/12/16 6:54 pm