Bromobenzene: Profile, Properties, Structure, and Industry Perspective

What is Bromobenzene?

Bromobenzene belongs in the group of aromatic organic compounds, best known for its simple but intriguing structure—one benzene ring with a bromine atom standing in place of a hydrogen. Chemists count on this compound as a starting point for more complex molecules, with a molecular formula of C₆H₅Br and a molecular weight sitting around 157.01 g/mol. In my years working with chemicals, I’ve watched Bromobenzene move from lab benches to production lines, valued for both reliability and reactivity. The HS Code for Bromobenzene, 29036990, guides its journey through customs, shipments, and regulatory checks. Careful handling remains important here, not just for lab safety, but also for compliance and traceability.

Structure and Chemical Profile

Bromobenzene’s six-carbon benzene ring, topped with a single bromine atom, creates a potent foundation for countless transformations. That halogen atom doesn’t just define the molecule; it opens the door to further functionalization, allowing for Suzuki coupling reactions or Grignard reagent production. In our chemical storerooms, bottles marked C₆H₅Br are a go-to for teaching and synthesis projects. After years of observing how students approach its crystal-clear liquid, it’s clear the structure’s simplicity hides plenty of chemical potential. The refractive index clocks in at 1.561, and a boiling point of about 156°C stands out as one of its key properties. Its density, approximately 1.495 g/cm³, can catch newcomers by surprise; compared to water, this material feels distinctly heavier in a graduated cylinder or flask.

Physical Properties and Commercial Forms

Bromobenzene displays as a colorless to pale yellow liquid at room temperature, with a faint aromatic odor noticeable even in ventilated workspaces. Technicians notice the difference immediately: compared to powders and flakes in the storeroom, this liquid has a clarity that speaks to purity. You won’t find it as flakes, pearls, or crystals at practical temperatures, though cooling shifts it toward a solid state, offering occasional glimpses of shiny, colorless crystals in a freezer. In terms of solubility, it resists mixing with water but dissolves with ease in organic solvents, such as ethanol or diethyl ether. That property narrows its use for specific extraction, synthesis, and product formulation requirements. Liquid storage keeps things simple, whether you’re measuring milliliters for a synthesis batch or larger volumes in industrial drums. Each scenario highlights Bromobenzene’s adaptability as a raw material and reagent, whether packed by liter for lab use or shipped in bulk as a precursor in dye or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Industrial Role and Raw Material Insight

In my time consulting for specialty chemical manufacturers, Bromobenzene’s footprint showed up in everything from pharmaceuticals to agrochemicals. Production plants select it as a raw material for making phenylmagnesium bromide—a Grignard reagent making waves in carbon-carbon bond formation. Beyond synthesis labs, factories trade it as stock for dye, flame retardant, and engineering plastic manufacturing. Each process prioritizes reliability in chemical reactivity, and Bromobenzene delivers on that score. For example, phenol or aniline routes often feature Bromobenzene as the backbone precursor, its single-atom substitution speeding up transformations that would otherwise stall or lose yield. Safety officers in these environments treat it with respect, tracking quantities and exposure risks within digital inventory systems, and training staff to handle spills or leaks—the aromatic odor acts as an early warning, calling attention before concentrations climb too high.

Handling, Storage, and Hazard Perspective

Bromobenzene counts as hazardous—classification under GHS gives clear warning about its risks. Even brief skin or eye contact can result in irritation, and repeated inhalation of vapor brings headaches, dizziness, and possible organ effects. The toxicological record, built up over decades of chemical safety reviews, lists Bromobenzene as harmful if swallowed, or if absorbed through the skin in sufficient quantity. Appropriate PPE has always been non-negotiable: chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and lab coats form the first line of defense, not just for meeting regulatory requirements, but for protecting worker health in unpredictable settings. The material needs to stay in well-ventilated, flame-proof rooms, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and incompatible chemicals. Emergency systems in properly designed facilities include spill kits, absorbent materials, and established evacuation protocols, all aimed at preventing harm and containing environmental impact.

Safe Use, Regulatory, and Environmental Responsibility

Industry regulations bear down on Bromobenzene, not just as a toxin, but as a potential environmental pollutant. Disposal routines focus on complete incineration in compliance with local and international waste codes, never flushing material down drains or into municipal landfills. Over years in labs and pilot plants, risk assessments and training sessions have reduced incidents, but accidents still happen—usually when best practices aren’t followed. Real accountability means keeping up with safety data sheets, reviewing changes in hazard communication, and investing in updated handling procedures. Regulatory bodies such as OSHA, REACH, and EPA require tracking of sourced, stored, and disposed volumes, pushing companies to implement barcoding and digital logs that flag any discrepancies. Community-right-to-know standards also urge companies to notify local authorities about storage quantities, possible emission points, and emergency response plans. Across the chemical industry, growing attention to environmental fate—its slow breakdown and tendency to bioaccumulate—drives the push for closed-loop systems and more robust containment.

Solutions and Industry Progress

Safer process design and green chemistry have started changing the way Bromobenzene is used and managed. Engineering controls such as sealed transfer lines, scrubber systems, and explosion-proof pumps aren’t just recommendations; they represent the new normal. Across my work with environmental teams, substitution strategies—where possible—shift production to molecules with lower toxicity and greater biodegradability. Routine monitoring with gas detectors and air filtration systems cuts risk of long-term exposure. Automated stock control helps track every liter, improving supply chain integrity in environments where Bromobenzene forms only one part of a tangled web of hazardous substances. Process audits, supported by digital record-keeping, anchor these changes and reduce historical reliance on memory or handwritten logs. My own experience working with multidisciplinary teams—safety, engineering, production, environmental—shows that commitment at every level, not just from management but from technicians and line workers, underpins real change in safe handling and reduced environmental impact.

Summary of Key Specifications

Chemical Name: Bromobenzene
Molecular Formula: C₆H₅Br
Molecular Weight: 157.01 g/mol
Structure: Benzene ring with one bromine atom
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Density: 1.495 g/cm³ (at 20°C)
Boiling Point: 156°C
Melting Point: -30.8°C
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents
HS Code: 29036990
Hazardous Classification: Harmful, irritant, environmental hazard
Raw Material Use: Dye intermediates, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flame retardants