Bromine
Bromine is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Br and atomic number 35. It is a volatile red-brown liquid at room temperature that evaporates readily to form a similarly coloured vapour. Its properties are intermediate between th ...
monochloride, also called bromine(I) chloride, bromochloride, and bromine chloride, is an
interhalogen inorganic compound
An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bondsthat is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''.
Inorgan ...
with chemical formula BrCl. It is a very reactive golden yellow gas with boiling point 5 °C and melting point −66 °C. Its
CAS number is 13863-41-7, and its
EINECS number is 237-601-4. It is a strong oxidizing agent. Its
molecular structure
Molecular geometry is the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms that constitute a molecule. It includes the general shape of the molecule as well as bond lengths, bond angles, torsional angles and any other geometrical parameters that det ...
in the gas phase was determined by
microwave spectroscopy; the Br-Cl bond has a length of ''r''
e = 2.1360376(18) Å. Its crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction; the bond length in the solid state is 2.179(2) Å and the shortest intermolecular interaction is ''r''(Cl···Br) = 3.145(2) Å.
Uses
Bromine monochloride is used in
analytical chemistry
Analytical skill, Analytical chemistry studies and uses instruments and methods to Separation process, separate, identify, and Quantification (science), quantify matter. In practice, separation, identification or quantification may constitute t ...
in determining low levels of
mercury, to quantitatively oxidize mercury in the sample to Hg(II) state.
A common use of bromine monochloride is as an
algaecide,
fungicide
Fungicides are pesticides used to kill parasitic fungi or their spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in losses of yield and quality. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals, ...
, and
disinfectant
A disinfectant is a chemical substance or compound used to inactivate or destroy microorganisms on inert surfaces. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than ...
of industrial recirculating cooling water systems.
Addition of bromine monochloride is used in some types of
Li-SO2 batteries to increase voltage and energy density.
See also
*
List of highly toxic gases
Many gases have toxic properties, which are often assessed using the LC50 (median lethal concentration) measure. In the United States, many of these gases have been assigned an NFPA 704 health rating of 4 (may be fatal) or 3 (may cause serious ...
*
Interhalogen compounds
References
{{Authority control
Chlorides
Bromine(I) compounds
Interhalogen compounds
Diatomic molecules
Fungicides
Pesticides
Disinfectants
Oxidizing agents
Gases with color