bromine

American  

[broh-meen, -min] / ˈbroʊ min, -mɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. an element that is a dark-reddish, fuming, toxic liquid and a member of the halogen family: obtained from natural brines and ocean water, and used chiefly in the manufacture of gasoline antiknock compounds, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. Br; 79.909; 35; 3.119 at 20°C.

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bromine British  

/ ˈbrəʊmiːn, -mɪn /

noun

1. a pungent dark red volatile liquid element of the halogen series that occurs in natural brine and is used in the production of chemicals, esp ethylene dibromide. Symbol: Br; atomic no: 35; atomic wt: 79.904; valency: 1, 3, 5, or 7; relative density 3.12; density (gas): 7.59 kg/m³; melting pt: –7.2°C; boiling pt: 58.78°C

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bromine Scientific  

/ brō′mēn /

1. A reddish-brown volatile element of the halogen group found in compounds occurring in ocean water. The pure form is a nonmetallic liquid that gives off a highly irritating vapor. It is used to make dyes, sedatives, and photographic film. Atomic weight 79.904; atomic number 35; melting point 7.2°C; boiling point 58.78°C; specific gravity 3.12; valence 1, 3, 5, 7.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of bromine

1827; < French brome bromine (< Greek brômos stench) + -ine ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bromine

This process allows researchers to control which halogen atoms, including chlorine, bromine, or iodine, attach to the surface.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026

He’s run a series of studies showing that some portion—often a relatively small fraction—of these goods do have contaminants like bromine, lead, mercury, and antimony in them.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2024

These products can have chemicals added to them that you wouldn’t want in your cooking utensils—like flame retardants created from bromine.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2024

Researchers examined 203 consumer products for bromine, a key indicator of the use of flame retardants.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2024

They found that if they cleaned an infected wound with chemicals such as carbolic acid, bromine, nitric acid, and iodine, they could sometimes heal it.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow