The Liquid...

NAME: Derived from the Greek word "bromos" which means stench

DISCOVERY: It was first isolated in pure form by a man named Antoine Jerome Balard in 1826, after being discovered by him in salt water.

DESCRIPTION: Bromine is a reddish-brown liquid (almost this color) that is very stinky and that fumes at room temperature. Bromine is the only non-metal that is a liquid at normal room conditions. Watch out! Once bromine contacts skin it causes painful burns that heal very slowly.

SOURCE: It does not occur uncombined in nature, but rather can be found combined with other elements and in salt water and springs. Bromine is produced by displacement from common sea water. Generally, chlorine is used to dislodge the bromine from other compounds in the water.
 

USES: Bromine was used as an additive in leaded gasoline (when it was still on the market) to help prevent engine "knocking". Now it is used mostly in dyes, disinfectants, and photographic chemicals.

BIOLOGICAL ROLE:  Bromine plays no biological role.

ATOMIC NUMBER: 35

ATOMIC SYMBOL: Br

ATOMIC MASS: 79.904

MELTING POINT: -7.2 degrees C

BOILING POINT: 58.78 degrees C

NUMBER OF NEUTRONS: 45

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE: cubic

DENSITY @293K: 7.14 grams per liter