Facts about bromine

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800px-Bromine_vial_in_acrylic_cube

Most have us have had the misfortune/fortune of having to learn the periodic table when we were younger. Nobody ever understood the need to have to memorize the names and properties of all elements that existed on the planet.
To make things worse, there was that additional group classification of every element that we were forced to remember. Yes, seems a little unnecessary.
Well yes, not all elements deserve a special place in our memory. But what if I told you, that maybe there are some elements that play a very important role in our lives? What if I told you, that the properties of some elements are just worth memorizing for the large roles they play on this planet?
Completely worth it, isn’t it? Bromine is one such element. Places such as the Dead Sea are rich sources of this element.
Here are some more facts about bromine.

1. The element(ary) details.
Atomic number: 35
Element symbol: Br
Atomic weight: 79.904

2. Bromine is a halogen.
Halogens are elements that are almost never found in their elemental forms. They are generally present in salt forms.

3. Bromine is derived from the Greek work “bromos”, meaning stench or smell.

4. Bromine was discovered by French chemist Antoine Jerome Balard in 1826 and the commercially produced in 1860.

5. Properties of the element.
Bromine is one of the 6 halogen members of the periodic table. It is a heavy non-metallic liquid and appears to be reddish brown in color. It has properties similar to chlorine and iodine and may be highly corrosive in nature.

6. Bromine is widely found in nature in the Earth’s crust and is a major constituent of chemical complexes present in sea water.
Bromine is believed to be the 10th most abundant element present in the sea and amounts to roughly about 67.3mg/L. In the Earth’s crust, it is the 64th most abundant element and amounts to about 2.4mg/kg.
This element is also widely used as a alternative to chlorine in swimming pools.

7. Bromine has 29 isotopes.
Elements that have the same atomic number but different atomic weights are called isotopes. These elements have similar chemical properties.
Bromine has 29 isotopes. These involve those from Br-69 to Br-97.

8. Bromine may have toxic effects on humans.
Bromine is known for its corrosive properties. When skin is exposed to elemental bromine, it results in corrosive burns owing to the toxic nature of the element. Bromine works by directly irritating the skin, mucous membranes, and tissues.
The extent of poisoning depends on the amount, length of time of exposure, age and preexisting medical condition of person exposed to elemental bromine.

9. Bromine compounds were once used as sedatives.
Bromide ions are well known for their sedative properties. Sodium bromide and potassium bromide were frequently used as sedatives during the 19th and 20th centuries. Nowadays, potassium bromide is more widely used as a veterinary drug as an antiepileptic medicine for dogs and other animals.

10. USA and Israel are primary producers of Bromine.
USA and Israel are the largest producers of Bromine. China follows these countries as the third largest producer of bromine. Bromine occurs in most water bodies in USA and is also widely produced otherwise. The brine walls in Michigan and Arkansas are natural sources of Bromine in USA. The production of Bromine has been estimated to about 330,000 tons per year.

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