1,2-Dibromoethane: A Closer Look
Historical Development
Back in the early twentieth century, chemists were on the hunt for ways to keep car engines running smoothly. Engines would often knock and rattle, hurting performance and reliability. 1,2-Dibromoethane entered the scene as a savior additive, working with tetraethyllead to help burn away the stubborn lead byproducts clogging up engines. The industrial interest that followed drove large-scale production through the century. Environmental movements and the wider understanding of toxicity shifted perceptions, putting 1,2-dibromoethane under tight regulation. What started as a tool for improving machines grew into a cautionary tale of human ingenuity and environmental cost.
Product Overview
1,2-Dibromoethane, also known as ethylene dibromide or EDB, stands out because of its oily texture and distinctive sweet smell. Thanks to its volatility and effective reactivity with certain metals and halides, it’s worked its way into pest control, leaded gasoline formulas, and even the synthesis of other chemicals. These uses reflect the dual nature of chemistry—solving one problem while quietly raising another.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Unlike many organic solvents, this compound boils at around 131°C and freezes just below room temperature, at 9°C. Its density is higher than water, coming in at about 2.18 g/cm³. EDB mixes well with organic solvents like alcohol and ether, but does not mix into water easily. It's clear, colorless, and looks harmless at a glance. Its molecular formula, C2H4Br2, reflects a simple structure—two bromine atoms attached to an ethane backbone. That simplicity makes it easy to manipulate in the lab, and easy for it to move through soil and water if released.
Technical Specifications & Labeling
Every drum of 1,2-dibromoethane carries hazard symbols pointing to its high toxicity and environmental dangers. The labeling must include warnings about its carcinogenicity, flammability, and risks to aquatic life. Detailed technical sheets usually mention minimum purity levels—often above 99%—impurities, boiling and melting points, storage conditions, and handling recommendations. The chemical comes packed in strong, sealed containers with tamper-evident lids to reduce leaks.
Preparation Method
Production boils down to reacting ethylene with bromine in a controlled environment. The process starts with gas-phase ethylene bubbled through liquid bromine, under low light to avoid triggering further unwanted reactions. This direct halogenation kicks up clouds of EDB vapors which condense and separate off for further purification, usually by distillation. The process brings lessons in industrial efficiency but also risk—bromine can burn, corrode, and poison in seconds if handled wrong.
Chemical Reactions & Modifications
The twin bromine atoms hanging off the ethane chain make this compound useful for introducing bromine into other organic molecules. Chemists favor EDB in the lab for synthesizing other halogenated products, especially where selective reactions are needed. It reacts readily with nucleophiles—materials that donate electrons—opening up possibilities for custom chemical transformations. For example, exposure to strong bases strips away a bromine, forming reactive intermediates used in pharmaceutical building blocks or agricultural chemicals.
Synonyms & Product Names
Ethylene dibromide heads the list of common names, with EDB used in everyday conversation among chemists. Other names like glycol dibromide and Brocide show up across regulatory and industrial paperwork. Agricultural products sometimes call it Dowfume or Bromofume, echoing its use as a soil fumigant. Whatever the label, its health and safety profile does not change.
Safety & Operational Standards
Most accidents in the history of 1,2-dibromoethane involved leaks, spills, or inhalation in poorly ventilated areas. Direct skin exposure leads to burning and blistering. Long-term inhalation can damage respiratory function. The U.S. OSHA restricts workplace air concentration to as low as 20 parts per billion, highlighting the severe risk even at low concentrations. Workers need chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and clothing, and must work under fume hoods or with full-face respirators. Storage calls for cool, dry, well-sealed areas far from food or water sources, since contamination events have caused mass poisonings in the past. Any spills require sand or absorbent clay to capture liquid and must be removed as hazardous waste.
Application Area
Agriculture grabbed hold of EDB in the 1940s and kept using it through most of the twentieth century, especially for treating soils and stored grains against pests. The compound’s vapor worked its way into deep soil and grain bins, killing off insects, nematodes, and weed seeds. Fuel companies saw its knack for reacting with metallic residues, printing its name on the pages of engine design history. In the lab, it’s a recurring entry in organic synthesis routes, helping produce dyes, pharmaceuticals, and other halogenated compounds. Many countries have pulled EDB out of most uses due to health risks, but traces linger in some niche processes and older infrastructure.
Research & Development
Researchers now focus less on new ways to use EDB, and more on undoing past damage. Current studies look at breaking it down safely in contaminated soils and water, using bioremediation and chemical treatments. Analytical chemists have built precise detection methods, such as gas chromatography, that catch even trace amounts—this capability is crucial for public health studies. Scientists also investigate long-term health effects on people exposed during childhood or while working near contaminated sites, trying to untangle the full picture of risk. These efforts help teach the next generation of chemists about responsibility as much as innovation.
Toxicity Research
A string of studies since the 1970s has tied EDB exposure to higher cancer rates in lab animals, reproductive harm, and neurological issues. Researchers have tracked breakdown products, finding that they sometimes cause as much damage as the parent chemical. Field sampling in areas where EDB lingers in groundwater shows measurable health impacts, including respiratory illnesses and possible developmental problems in children. International agencies rate it as a probable human carcinogen, leading to almost universal restriction and tough handling standards. Survivors and communities still living with legacy EDB pollution put a human face on what once seemed like an invisible risk.
Future Prospects
Experience with 1,2-dibromoethane shifts the focus from invention to stewardship. The future now means cleaning up, finding greener substitutes, and keeping a close watch on groundwater and food safety. Emerging technologies in water treatment and soil remediation may eventually lower contamination levels to safe limits. Some researchers continue to probe EDB’s chemistry, looking for reactions that yield less harmful byproducts or break down pollution more efficiently. As the chemical industry embraces sustainability mandates, stories like EDB push firms to figure long-term costs into their calculations. Lessons learned from its history still shape the way new generations approach pest control, fuel additives, and chemical manufacturing.
Essential Tool in Leaded Gasoline
Ask someone with a background in older automotive technology, and 1,2-dibromoethane usually rings a bell. This chemical served as a crucial lead scavenger in leaded gasoline for decades. Lead additives powered cars and trucks with more efficient fuel combustion, but burning lead left behind stubborn deposits in engines. 1,2-dibromoethane got added to gasoline to help prevent this buildup. It reacted with the lead, turning it into a volatile compound that fled through the exhaust. Before anyone prioritized unleaded fuels or worried too much about lead in children's blood, this was standard practice.
Lead is history in road fuels across most countries today. Still, in some places and in specialty uses like small aircraft, fuel still contains some lead. As long as that sticks around, 1,2-dibromoethane will get called on for the job. Major public health wins came from phasing out leaded fuels, so watching these last pockets of use matters.
Pesticide and Soil Fumigant—A Double-Edged Sword
Go back a few decades, and farmers leaned heavily on 1,2-dibromoethane as a fumigant. This chemical killed soil pests fast, controlling nematodes and other threats in crops like tobacco, potatoes, and citrus. Anyone with farm experience from the late twentieth century might remember barrels or tanks labeled “EDB.” Used straight into the earth, it knocked out bugs before anything got planted.
But handling came with a steep price: strong fumes, risks to groundwater, and links to cancer for workers and rural residents. Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns of cancer risks and mutation in animal studies. As awareness grew, most of the world banned this use, but restrictions vary and storage tanks sometimes surface even now. Education, proper storage, and clean-up of old sites still come up in agricultural communities today.
Critical but Risky in Industrial Chemistry
Factories still value 1,2-dibromoethane. It gets used making dyes, resins, waxes, and pharmaceuticals. Chemists sometimes call on it for synthesizing organic compounds and brominating hydrocarbons. In a lab or industrial setting, it’s a reactive partner—producing compounds that modern life demands.
This value comes at a cost. Health risks of long-term exposure led OSHA and similar agencies to enforce strict limits. Anyone handling it now works in full safety gear, treating spills like emergencies, and using special ventilation. Part of respecting this chemical means weighing its direct benefits with the risk to workers. Better training, safer facility design, and investment in alternatives keep incidents in check.
Ongoing Concerns and a Future Tied to Safer Alternatives
Fewer people encounter 1,2-dibromoethane at school or in casual work than they did in past generations. Legacy use still leaves a mark, though: contaminated sites—sometimes called brownfields—pop up near former facilities or tank burial sites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists it among well-known groundwater contaminants requiring cleanup.
Moving forward, research into less toxic fuel additives, green fumigation methods, and smart industrial design paves a better path. Old habits die hard, so outreach and access to safe alternatives stay important in protecting communities' health and water.
Looking Closer at 1,2-Dibromoethane
I remember growing up near a farm and hearing about all sorts of chemicals sprayed on crops. One name that stuck out was 1,2-Dibromoethane. It’s not a household word, but for decades, people used it for everything from pest control to leaded gasoline additives. Over time, it became clear this colorless liquid deserves some real scrutiny.
Health Risks You Can’t Ignore
Most people never see 1,2-Dibromoethane up close, but the risks don’t disappear just because it’s out of sight. Studies from groups like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show this chemical can wreak havoc if inhaled, swallowed, or comes into contact with skin. It’s absorbed quickly, and the danger goes beyond short-term headaches or irritation. People exposed at work—for example, in chemical manufacturing—report nausea, respiratory trouble, and even liver and kidney injuries.
Decades back, scientists noticed workers who handled this chemical had higher rates of certain cancers, including stomach and respiratory tract tumors. The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer both classify it as a probable human carcinogen. That’s not a label handed out lightly. Once companies learned more about these risks, strict regulations quickly followed.
What Happens to the Environment?
Any discussion on hazards has to look past human health. 1,2-Dibromoethane doesn’t break down easily once it hits water or soil. Fish and other aquatic life suffer most, since even low doses build up quickly in streams and lakes. Regulators discovered that well water in some farming regions, especially those with historic use of old pesticides, tested positive for this compound years later. It’s no surprise that cleanup standards today leave almost no room for error.
Lessons From the Past
I’ve watched communities rally for safety after learning about contaminated groundwater. Families demanded answers when their wells came back with troubling test results. Cleanup took years, and trust took even longer to rebuild. Some of those lessons stick with me: better safety training for workers, tighter rules on handling and storage, and ongoing environmental monitoring matter more than ever.
Practical Steps for Safer Living
It’s easy to feel powerless when reading about chemicals like 1,2-Dibromoethane. Real change starts with simple steps. Workers deserve proper protective gear and clear information about what they’re dealing with. People living near old industrial sites can ask local agencies for water testing or air-quality checks. Talking with health professionals and staying informed through trusted sources like the EPA or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health helps families make decisions based on science, not just fear.
We can’t erase the past, but we can ask tough questions and demand transparency moving forward. Hazardous chemicals don’t have to be a mystery—putting facts out in the open creates space for both honesty and action.
The Basics
1,2-Dibromoethane, often called ethylene dibromide, shows up as a clear, heavy liquid. It has a sweet, almost chloroform-like odor. Picture spilling a few drops on your hands – the heaviness becomes obvious right away, much denser than water. Its density sits around 2.17 grams per cubic centimeter, meaning it sinks fast when poured into water. This feature alone has led to its use as a lead scavenger in gasoline, though regulators scaled that back because of health risks.
Boiling Point and Volatility
This compound boils at about 131 degrees Celsius. You can bring water to a boil on the stove at 100°C, but ethylene dibromide hangs around in liquid form long past that. Gases start coming off earlier thanks to its volatility. It evaporates quickly at room temperature, filling the air with its sweet smell – not always welcome since inhaling it over time can harm the lungs. Scientists recommend good ventilation and fume hoods while using it.
Solubility and Miscibility
Ethylene dibromide doesn’t mix well with water. It dissolves only about 4 grams per liter at 25°C. Imagine pouring oil on water; ethylene dibromide forms a separate layer at the bottom because it’s heavier. It does, though, blend easily with many organic solvents like ethanol, ether, and chloroform. Laboratories and industries lean on this feature for chemical synthesis and extraction work. The low solubility in water means environmental spills often persist in soil and groundwater, making clean-up a serious concern.
Melting Point and Stability
This chemical doesn’t freeze until temperatures dip down to -52°C. Even if your lab feels chilly, it remains a liquid unless things get Arctic cold. Ultraviolet light, heat, or contact with certain metals break it apart, though – not something you want around old plumbing or stored in sunlight. In my time at university labs, we kept it in dark bottles, away from copper, to avoid unwanted reactions.
Color, Odor, and Texture
Its colorless nature fools the eye. With a texture almost like syrup, each drop slicks across surfaces, sticking to gloves and glassware. You’ll never mistake its odor if you’ve encountered it before. Colleagues joke the aroma signals trouble, given its toxicity. Wearing gloves and goggles feels much less like overkill once you realize even small exposure can cause trouble down the road.
Pressure and Handling
Vapor pressure registers just under 11 mmHg at 20°C, much higher than water. This number means more vapor in the air, which cranks up the risk of inhalation. Chemical plants tune their ventilators and containment systems because routine handling exposes workers unless controls stay sharp. I’ve spoken with safety managers who walk through the plant sniffing for slips in protocol, since one lapse can spell medical bills.
Implications and Safer Alternatives
Given these physical traits, industries must respect both the power and hazards of ethylene dibromide. Simple moves, like double-sealing storage drums, go a long way in protecting groundwater. Workers push for substitutes in agriculture and industry, focusing on less toxic compounds when possible. Regulations around the world get stricter each year. Firms that adapt to safer materials don’t just follow rules; they show value for their employees and communities.
Real Dangers, Not Just Warnings
1,2-Dibromoethane has a reputation that’s well-earned. This isn’t the sort of chemical you leave on a shelf without a second thought. In college, our instructor described it as “the danger in a bottle,” not because he wanted to scare us, but because mishandling it carries real health risks. For the record, exposure links to cancer, damage to liver and kidneys, and severe respiratory irritation. It’s a volatile liquid, easy to inhale without even noticing. Many know its historic use in leaded gasoline and pesticides, both now tightly restricted due to those same health impacts.
Choosing the Right Storage
Storing 1,2-Dibromoethane safely starts by placing it in a tightly sealed, chemical-resistant container. Glass, with a solid cap, handles it best. My lab once stored a similar halocarbon in a basic plastic bottle—bad call. After a week, the plastic softened and the air smelled off; lesson learned. This chemical breaks down some plastics, so glass or metal containers matter and deserve regular checks for leaks.
Walk into any reputable chemical storeroom and you’ll spot flammables away from sources of heat or open flames. 1,2-Dibromoethane doesn’t catch fire as easily as benzene, but it releases toxic fumes—even at room temperature. Stash it away from acids, bases, or strong oxidizers. Mixing it with those causes violent reactions. At one company site audit, someone flagged a container sitting beside an acid, and the inspectors didn’t just hand out warnings—they demanded immediate separation. The chemical’s spot belongs in a cool, dry, well-ventilated storeroom, never near sunlight or where temperatures swing wildly.
Personal Protection Makes the Difference
Handling chemicals like this means layering protection. I’ve worn nitrile gloves handling lab-grade solvents, but I wouldn’t trust only gloves with 1,2-Dibromoethane. Add a face shield, chemical goggles, and a proper lab coat. During a spill drill last year, a missed droplet on a bare wrist left a red burn. Even brief contact means risk. Old stories of chemists working with open bottles should be cautionary tales—not role models. Eye wash stations and safety showers aren’t just for show; easy access often prevents injury from turning into something worse.
Ventilation and Spills
Fume hoods save headaches—literally. I’ve gotten woozy standing near an open flask in a poorly ventilated space. A chemical with fumes this heavy doesn’t just smell bad; it can slap you with dizziness or worse. Adequate ventilation helps, but a properly installed fume hood beats a cracked window.
Spills demand respect and readiness. For small leaks, get proper absorbent material—vermiculite or activated carbon—and contain the area. Seal up and tag any contaminated waste for hazardous disposal. Never grab paper towels and toss them in the trash; local environmental rules demand hazardous waste processing for a reason. During an internship, an improperly managed cleanup led to weeks of remediation—not to mention hefty fines.
Ongoing Training
Good storage and handling answers come from consistent training and habit-building. Regular safety briefings, drills, and clear signage lead to safe workplaces. Read the Safety Data Sheets, but don’t stop at reading—ask questions, watch experienced staff, and share what goes wrong. If your workplace gets lax, bring it up. Cuts to safety training mean more than budget savings; they invite disaster. If you ever wonder whether it's necessary to take every precaution, remember: accident stories rarely end well.
You Can’t Afford to be Careless
Anyone who’s worked with 1,2-Dibromoethane knows that this isn’t a chemical you just splash around. I learned early on that a single sloppy moment can cause more damage than a month’s worth of careful work. The compound’s been used across agriculture and industry, but people sometimes underestimate just how harmful it gets if you mess up. Breathing it in, spilling it on your skin, or failing to keep it contained puts health at risk quickly.
Why Protection Is Non-Negotiable
I always recommend goggles with a snug seal and gloves made of nitrile or butyl rubber. Cotton or ordinary latex cannot hold up. 1,2-Dibromoethane soaks through a lot of standard materials and travels right into your skin, which can cause acute poisoning—headaches, nausea, trouble breathing. Simple masks won’t cut it either; only a respirator with the right filter gives reliable protection. In busy labs, there’s a habit of rushing setups, but it only takes one exposure to learn a painful lesson.
Workplace Setup Makes the Difference
There’s a temptation to set up in a corner or leave exhaust fans off. I make sure every project sits inside a vented fume hood. The stuff evaporates easily at room temperature, turning into a vapor you don’t even see, and it lingers longer near the floor because it’s heavier than air. Spills and splashes call for immediate action—good teams keep spill kits nearby, with plenty of absorbent material and a clear written procedure on who does what in an emergency.
Safe Storage: Separate, Sealed, and Labeled
As soon as a shipment arrives, I check the container integrity. No dented cans or leaky bottles. 1,2-Dibromoethane attacks certain plastics, so I store it in glass, well-sealed, away from acids, bases, or anything that could trigger unwanted reactions. Flammable liquids cabinets help, but I always double-check the secondary containment tray underneath. You don’t want a slow drip eating through shelves or mixing with another chemical in the dark.
People Deserve to Know the Risks
I sit down with everyone on the team and break down the risks in plain language. Safety data sheets don’t help much if they’re just stuffed in a binder nobody looks at. Regular drills give everyone confidence to act, not freeze, if something spills or someone gets splashed. I also learned from experience that eye wash stations and safety showers should be closer than you think—nobody can sprint across a building with their vision clouded.
Medical Monitoring and Aftercare
Regular ventilation checks and area air monitoring matter as much as any PPE. Even after all this, I keep up with medical checks for anyone who handles 1,2-Dibromoethane. Subtle symptoms sometimes show up late. Studies have linked exposure to cancer and organ damage, so it’s not just about getting through the day unharmed. People need to leave the job as healthy as they walked in.
Zero Shortcuts—That’s What Builds Trust
By sticking to these precautions, I know I’m not only following the law—I’m respecting the lives of my coworkers. Safety with this compound asks for steady attention and a willingness to speak up. Nothing matters more than making sure the job gets done without anyone sacrificing their well-being. In this line of work, you only get one set of lungs, one pair of hands.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 1,2-dibromoethane |
| Other names |
Ethylene dibromide
EDB Glycol bromide Ethylene bromide Dibromoethane |
| Pronunciation | /ˌwʌnˌtuː daɪˈbroʊmoʊˌɛθ.eɪn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 106-93-4 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1720241 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:35069 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL14236 |
| ChemSpider | 6829 |
| DrugBank | DB01147 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03-2119474378-33-0000 |
| EC Number | 207-070-3 |
| Gmelin Reference | **793** |
| KEGG | C00219 |
| MeSH | D003962 |
| PubChem CID | 6056 |
| RTECS number | KH8225000 |
| UNII | 7T1F7QC929 |
| UN number | UN1605 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C2H4Br2 |
| Molar mass | 187.86 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow liquid |
| Odor | sweet odor |
| Density | 2.18 g/mL |
| Solubility in water | 4.43 g/100 mL (20 °C) |
| log P | 1.96 |
| Vapor pressure | 11.7 mmHg (20 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 15.9 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -8.38×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.541 |
| Viscosity | 2.174 mPa·s (20 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.19 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 246.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −85.0 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -2901 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | V09AX04 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Toxic if swallowed, toxic in contact with skin, toxic if inhaled, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause genetic defects, may cause cancer. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS06, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHS02,GHS06,GHS08 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H225, H302, H315, H319, H332, H350 |
| Precautionary statements | P201, P202, P210, P233, P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301+P310, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P311, P321, P330, P362+P364, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-3-0 |
| Flash point | 55 °C (closed cup) |
| Autoignition temperature | 413 °C |
| Explosive limits | 6–15% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral rat 140 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 108 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| NIOSH | 0087 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) of 1,2-Dibromoethane: 1 ppm (8-hour TWA) |
| REL (Recommended) | 1 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | 100 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Ethylene
1,2-Dichloroethane 1,1-Dibromoethane Bromoethane Vinyl bromide |
