Substance profile
Bromine
Bromine is a dark reddish-brown, volatile, mobile diatomic liquid; vaporizes at room temperature with a suffocating odor.
01 · Identification
What Bromine is
Bromine is a dark reddish-brown, volatile, mobile diatomic liquid; vaporizes at room temperature with a suffocating odor. Its molecular formula is Br2 and its molecular weight is 159.81 g/mol. It boils at 58.8 °C, melts at -7.2 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
02 · Identifiers
Bromine identifiers and molecular data
Bromine CAS number and EC number
Bromine molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
Bromine hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
Bromine pictograms and signal word
Bromine hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 1 or 2 | H330 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 1A or 1B or 1C | H314 | GHS05 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - acute GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 1 | H400 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
Bromine hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H330 | Fatal if inhaled. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to Bromine. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for Bromine
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of Bromine issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
Bromine precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 10 precautionary statements to Bromine. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
Bromine name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | бром |
| Spanish español | Bromo |
| Czech čeština | brom |
| Danish dansk | brom |
| German Deutsch | Brom |
| Estonian eesti | broom |
| Greek ελληνικά | βρώμιο |
| English English | bromine |
| French français | brome |
| Croatian hrvatski | brom |
| Italian italiano | bromo |
| Latvian latviešu | broms |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | bromas |
| Hungarian magyar | bróm |
| Maltese Malti | bromin |
| Dutch Nederlands | broom |
| Polish polski | brom |
| Portuguese português | bromo |
| Romanian română | brom |
| Slovak slovenčina | bróm |
| Slovenian slovenščina | brom |
| Finnish suomi | bromi |
| Swedish svenska | bromin |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
Bromine GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for Bromine, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
Bromine
- Fatal if inhaled.
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- Very toxic to aquatic life.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF INHALED:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Do NOT induce vomiting.
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open Bromine in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
Bromine health hazards and exposure limits
Bromine hazard summary
Liquid causes second or third degree burns after short contact; [CHRIS] Highly corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Listed as one of major irritant airborne toxicants; [LaDou, p. 563] A lachrymator; [HSDB] Causes lachrymation; A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] Bromide compounds have been used since the 19th century as sedatives and anticonvulsants. Because of the risk of chronic bromide poisoning (bromism), bromide salts were removed from most pharmaceuticals in the US by 1978. The findings of bromism include neuropsychiatric symptoms and acne. [Ford, p. 559] The bromide ion has a long half-life so that bioaccumulation and delayed toxicity may be observed. [Goldfrank, p. 1066] When spilled in water Bromine trifluoride and Bromine pentafluoride can release HF and Bromine. [ERG 2016] See the Process, Toxic Gas from Spilling Chemical in Water.
Source: Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
Bromine occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 0.1 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | TWA 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) See Appendix G | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| REL | 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m³) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | TWA 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) ST 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3) | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 3 ppm (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 3 ppm [From NPG: Bromine] (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 3.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
Bromine properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
Bromine boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 58.8 °C (137.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| 59.44 °C (139 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 59.56 °C (139.2 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
Bromine melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | -7.2 °C (19 °F) | HSDB | |
| -7.22 °C (19 °F) | NIOSH |
Bromine density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 3.12 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 3.1023 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Bromine solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Water solubility: 35.8 g/L at 20 °C; 41.7 g/L at 0 °C | at 20 °C | HSDB |
| Solubility in water (25 °C): 0.2141 mol/L with formation of 0.00115 mol/L of HOBr | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| In water, 33.6 g/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Bromine vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 172 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 172 mmHg | at 20.6 °C | CAMEO | |
| 212 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
Bromine autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Bromine lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Fire and Explosion Hazards: Strong oxidizer. Heat of reaction may ignite combustibles on contact. May accelerate combustion reactions. | HSDB | |
| Noncombustible Liquid, but accelerates the burning of combustibles. | NIOSH |
Bromine vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 5.5 (air = 1) | ICSC | |
| 5.51 (air = 1) | OSHA | ||
| 5.51 (air = 1) | at 15 °C | CAMEO |
Bromine odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | ODOR THRESHOLDS OF 0.05-3.5 PPM HAVE BEEN REPORTED. | HSDB | |
| Odor low 0.329 mg/cu m; Odor high 24.5 mg/cu m | HSDB | ||
| Air odor threshold: 0.051 ppm (v/v); water odor threshold: 0.0063 ppm (w/v) | HSDB |
Bromine critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 315 °C (599 °F) | HSDB |
Bromine corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Corrosive material | HSDB | |
| Vapor is highly corrosive to many materials and human tissue | HSDB | ||
| Attacks most metals, including platinum and palladium; dry bromine does not attack lead, nickel, magnesium, tantalum, iron, zinc or (below 300 °C) sodium | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Handling and storage
Bromine storage and handling
Bromine safe storage
Provision to contain effluent from fire extinguishing. Separated from food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Dry. Well closed. Keep in a well-ventilated room. Store only in original container. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Bromine storage conditions
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities: Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Do not store in polyethylene containers. Handle and open container with care.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Bromine incompatible materials
During bromination of acetone to bromoacetone, presence of a large excess of bromine must be avoided to prevent sudden and violent reaction.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Bromine reactivity
BROMINE SOLUTION is an oxidizing agent. Bromine disproportionates rapidly in basic water to give bromide ion and bromate ion. The latter is also an oxidizing agent. Dissolution lowers reactivity compared to pure bromine. Reacts with reducing reagents. Reacts with hydrogen, diethylzinc, dimethylformamide, ammonia, trimethylamine, nitromethane, metal azides (silver or sodium azide). Can react with Mg, Sr, B, Al, Hg, Ti, Sn, Sb in powder or sheet form, to form bromides. Can react with methanol, ethanol, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, diethyl ether, carbonyl compounds, tetrahydrofuran, acrylonitrile, ozone, phosphorus, natural rubber. Reactions with red phosphorus, metal azides, nitromethane, silane and its homologues may be vigorous.[Bretherick, 5th ed., 1995, p. 109].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Bromine in the storage compatibility matrix →
10 · Transport
Bromine UN number and transport classification
Transport classification is a separate system from the GHS classification above. It decides how a package is marked and how a load may be carried; it does not follow from the workplace label, and the workplace label does not follow from it. The entries below are linked by CAS number, never by name.
Bromine under UN 1744 — shipping name, class and packing group
Europe · ADR 2025, Table A
| Proper shipping name (3.1.2) | Class | Classification code | PG | Labels (column 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BROMINE or BROMINE SOLUTION | 8 | CT1 | I | |
Source: ADR 2025, Table A of Chapter 3.2 · ECE/TRANS/352 Vol. I (UNECE). Class 8 is “Corrosive substances” (ADR 2.1.1.1).
United States · 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table
| Proper shipping name (column 2) | Class or division | PG | Labels (column 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bromine | 8 | I | |
| Bromine solutions | 8 | I | |
| Bromine solutions | 8 | I | |
Source: 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table · eCFR, revision 2026-08-03. Class 8 is “Corrosive material” (49 CFR 173.2).
11 · Questions
Bromine — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of Bromine?
The CAS number of Bromine is 7726-95-6. Its EC number is 231-778-1.
What is the chemical formula of Bromine?
The molecular formula of Bromine is Br2 and its molecular weight is 159.81 g/mol.
What does a Bromine label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for Bromine carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones, Corrosion and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is Bromine flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns Bromine no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it.
Is Bromine a carcinogen?
CLP Annex VI records no harmonised carcinogenicity classification for Bromine. Annex VI is a list of agreed classifications, not a list of substances found safe, so this is an absence of a classification rather than a clean bill of health.
What is the exposure limit for Bromine?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for Bromine is 0.1 [ppm] (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of Bromine?
The boiling point reported for Bromine is 58.8 °C (137.8 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of Bromine?
The melting point reported for Bromine is -7.2 °C (19 °F) (HSDB).
How should Bromine be stored?
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities: Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Do not store in polyethylene containers. Handle and open container with care. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
Nearby
Substances next to Bromine
Keep going: substances starting with B, or search the whole database by name, CAS number, pictogram or signal word.