Handling liquid bromine and preparing bromine water

It is important to wear protective equipment and follow appropriate guidance when handling liquid bromine (VERY TOXIC, CORROSIVE, DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT) and preparing bromine water in the laboratory. Use these technical notes together with our standard health and safety guidance to ensure you use these substances safely.

Health, safety and technical notes

• Read our standard health and safety guidance.

Opening ampoules

• Wear heavy duty, chemically resistant (e.g. nitrile) gloves. Do NOT use disposable plastic gloves – see CLEAPSS Guidance leaflet PS50.
• Wear eye protection (goggles or a face shield) throughout.  Use a fume cupboard.
• Do not handle the ampoules for longer than necessary (heat from the hand will build up pressure).
• Ampoules often come supplied with a special tool for breaking off the end. Otherwise, make a scratch on the neck of the ampoule with a good glass knife and snap off the neck. For many purposes, the ampoule may be crushed where it is required in order to use it.

Bromine water

• Wear heavy duty, chemically resistant (e.g. nitrile) gloves. Do NOT use disposable plastic gloves – see CLEAPSS Guidance leaflet PS50.
• Wear protection: goggles or a face shield.  Work in a fume cupboard.
• Add 0.5 ml of bromine to 100 ml of water. Or crush an ampoule under 200 ml of water and decant the liquid into a bottle. Refer to CLEAPSS Hazcard HC015b and Recipe Book RB017 for alternative method.
• Bromine is VERY TOXIC, CORROSIVE and DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – see CLEAPSS Hazcards HC015a and HC015b, plus CLEAPSS Recipe Book RB017.
• Wherever bromine liquid is used or stored, have 500 ml of 1 M (25 %) solution of sodium thiosulfate to hand – see CLEAPSS Hazcards HC015a and HC015b.