BROMINE (Greek, brcrmos, disagreeable smell: symb. Br; equiv. 80; spec. gray. 2.96), one of the chemical elements, occurs in coinbination in sea-water to the extent of about 1 grain to the gallon. It is found more abundantly in certain saline springs, especially those at Kreuznach and Kissengen in Germany. It is also present in water and land plants and animals. In the extraction of B. from concentrated sea-water, from which common salt has been separated in quantity, and which is then called bittern, or from salt springs, the liquor—which contains the 13:, as bromide of magnesium (MgBr)—hasa stream of chlorine gas (Cl) passed through it, which forms chloride of magnesium (MgC1), and liberates the bromine. The liquid thus becomes of a more or less yellow tint, and if it be then agitated with ether, and allowed to settle, the latter floats up the bromine. The ethereal solution is then treated with potash, which principally forms bromide of potassium (KBr), and fixes the B., so that the ether may be distilled off. The
residue is then treated with oxide of manganese and sulphuric acid in a retort with heat. which results in the liberation and distillation of pure bromine. It exists as a deep red liquid of density 2.966 (nearly 3), which readily evolves red fumes of a very irritating and suffocating nature. It is very poisonous, actually destroying the animal tissues. It is sparingly soluble in water, more so in alcohol and ether, and its water solution pos sesses great bleaching properties. When raised to the temperature of 145.4° F., it boils, and reduced to 95 it becomes a red crystalline solid. B. combines with great rapidity with metals, occasionally with ignition, as with antimony, and forms a class of salts. Treated with liydrosulpburic acid, B. yields hydrobromic acid (HBr), which is the analogue of hydrochloric acid, as B. is of chlorine.