What is Bromine?
Bromine is a nonmetallic chemical element which bears the distinction of being the only nonmetallic element which is liquid at room temperature. It is highly toxic and extremely reactive, requiring extreme care when it is handled. Bromine is used in an assortment of industrial compounds and cleaners, and it is readily available from a number of sources. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, you may already be familiar with bromine in the form of bromine tablets which are used to treat water. The element is identified by the symbol Br on the periodic table of elements, and it has an atomic number of 35. The name “bromine” is derived from the Greek bromos, for “stench,” a reference to the characteristic sharp and unpleasant odor of bromine. It is classified among the halogen elements, which share the traits of extreme reactivity and the ability to produce salts when exposed to metals. In addition, all halogen elements are nonmetallic, and they exist in all three states of matter at or
