23 Bromoform Uses : Facts You Should Know!

Bromoform, chemically abbreviated as CHBr3 is an excellent organic solvent. Let us explore some interesting facts about the uses of Bromoform in various industries.

Bromoform (CHBr3) is found as a liquid at room temperature with an atomic weight of 252.73 gm/mol, and this is used in industries like-

  • Research field
  • Chemical Industry
  • Geological Industry
  • Electronic Industry
  • Heavy Machineries Manufacturing Industry
  • Beauty & Cosmetic Industry
  • Agrochemical Industry

This article is going to present a detailed analysis of the uses of CHBr3 in various industries.

Research Field

  • Bromoform, a high-density (density = 2.89 gm/ mole) haloform is used as an organic solvent in laboratories. 
  • Bromoform is used to inhibit Methanogenesis . CHBr3 is primarily processed by seaweed that prevents methane secretion from animal ruminants. 
  • CHBr3, a non-flammable liquid compound is widely used as wax or oils. 
  • During chemical synthesis, Bromoform acts as the degreasing agent.
  • Bromoform behaves as the intermediate to accelerate the reaction during the chemical synthesis process in laboratories.
  • CHBr3 is used to manufacture many useful chemical substances which prevent bacterial growth.
  • In the polymer reaction, CHBr3 performs the role of catalyst, reaction initiator, or sensitizer.

Chemical Industry

  • Bromoform is specifically used for chemical extraction purposes.
  • The bromoform liquid is kept as a flame retardant in order to secure the plastic or textile factories. 
  • The chemical reagent, CHBr3 assists in the process of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies (NMR) of other chemical compounds. 
  • Bromoform liquid is also used to fill the liquid in pressure gauges. As the specific gravity of CHBr3 (sp. gravity = 2.89) is high, this liquid helps to measure high dynamics shocks with liquid-filled pressure gauges accurately. 
  • As a chemical compound, CHBr3 is present in fire-resistant mixtures as it is denser than water.
  • Bromoform serves the purpose of industrial solvent during liquid-solvent extractions.
  • The CHBr3 solvent is readily used for the vulcanization of Rubber, where Rubber is heated with sulfur compound for hardening purposes. 
  • Bromoform, a pale-yellow liquid, acts as an excellent reagent to dissolve many chemical substituents beneficial for humans.

Geological Industry

  • Bromoform acts as an excellent reagent for mineral separation as it has a higher density than other haloforms, The mineral mixture is dissolved into Bromoform solvent, creating a clear separation between high and low-density minerals.
  • CHBr3 is utilized in small amounts to recover minerals from ores. 
  • CHBr3 serves as an excellent reagent during the sedimentary photographic survey.
  • For purifying quartz, Bromoform acts as the heavy liquid flotation agent.

Electronic Industry

Bromoform solvent is used during the quality assurance process in the electronic industry.

Heavy Machinery Manufacturing Industry

  • Bromoform is beneficial in the shipbuilding industry while manufacturing the products.
  • As a liquid chemical, CHBr3 is used for manufacturing purposes in the aircraft and aerospace industry.

Beauty & Cosmetic Industry

Bromoform is found in hair cosmetics. Along with sulfur and vat dyes, CHBr3 helps in batch hair-dying treatments.

Agrochemical Industry

As a solvent, CHBr3 excellently aids the manufacturing of agrochemicals as well.

Conclusion

Bromoform, a brominated solvent with a high refractive index, boils between 147 ℃ to 151 ℃ (296 ℉ to 304 ℉) and solidifies at -4 ℃ to 16 ℃ (25 ℉ to 61 ℉). It is among the four haloforms synthesized by the haloform reaction between acetone and sodium hypobromite.