ABSTRACT
The chemical behavior of bromine is generally similar to that of chlorine. It has seven electrons in its outer shell and is a strong oxidizing agent, having an oxidation potential of-1.0652 V [1]. Thus bromine is a more powerful oxidant than ferric ion or dilute nitric acid, but weaker than oxygen or chlorine. Differences in the reactivity of bromine and chlorine arise from the larger size of the bromine atom, with a resultant smaller attraction of the bromine nucleus for electrons. Therefore, bromine is less reactive than chlorine, and brominated compounds tend to be less stable than their chlorinated counterparts. The bulkiness of the bromine molecule causes steric hindrance in some reactions.
