Bromine

Bromine, a non-metallic liquid element discovered by Balard in 1826. Is not found free in nature, but occurs as bromide in marine plants, sea water, many saline springs, and in considerable quantities in the salt beds at Stassfurt. It is a dark red liquid boiling at 59° and possessing a very offensive smell, the vapour being extremely irritating to the mucous membrane of the nose, mouth and air-passages. In its chemical characters it resembles chlorine and iodine. It combines with hydrogen forming a monobasic acid, Hydrobromic acid, the silver and potassium salts of which are largely used in photography. It also forms oxyacids, which are not, however, of great chemical or industrial importance.