How did bromine get its name?

Bromine's name comes from the Greek word bromos, which means stench. It was chosen because the vapors of bromine give off a strong smell. French chemist Antoine-Jérôme Balard is credited for discovering and naming bromine in 1826.

Bromine is unique in that it is the only nonmetal element that is a liquid at room temperature. It is a red-brown color in both its liquid and solid form. Bromine is dangerous, and caution is needed when handling it. It is both volatile and mobile and can produce painful sores if it touches human skin. Bromine does have practical uses: silver bromide is used in photography, while other bromine compounds are used in flameproofing and to purify water.