Bromine water is a dilute solution of bromine used as a reagent in a range of chemical experiments. While it can be made in a chemistry lab by mixing the fumes of liquid bromine directly with water, this requires the use of a fume hood and heavy protective clothing, and is not suitable for beginning chemistry classes. A more convenient method of making bromine water uses bleach and hydrochloric acid to break down sodium bromide, avoiding the hazard of handling pure liquid bromine.
- Glass bottle with screw top
- Flask or beaker
- 1.1 g sodium bromide
- 10.7 mL 1 M hydrochloric acid
- 7.6 mL bleach
- 32 mL distilled water
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Instructions
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1
Label the bottle "bromine water" or "Br 2 (aq)."
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2
Dissolve the sodium bromine in the hydrochloric acid, mixing the compounds in a flask or beaker. Pour the mixture into the glass bottle.
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3
Add the bleach to the mixture in the bottle. Cap the bottle and swirl it gently to mix the ingredients.
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4
Dilute the mixture with distilled water, swirling gently to mix.
