The Hazards of Halogens in the Workplace

Halogens are highly reactive elements and can be harmful or even lethal in sufficient quantities. It’s amazing to think that something as benign as table salt contains chlorine, which in its elemental form is a poisonous yellow gas. Small amounts of bromine are used in halogen bulbs, and iodine is essential for health.

The 5 halogens are:

• Fluorite
• Chlorine
• Bromine
• Iodine
• astatine

Halogens are nonmetals and are found in the environment only as compounds or as ions in many minerals and seawater. Its elemental name is derived from two Greek words, which when combined mean ‘producer of salt’. When combined with hydrogen, halogens form compounds called halides, a series of very strong acids, one of which is hydrochloric acid.

Fluorite

At room temperature, it is a pale yellowish-brown gas, one of the most reactive elements in existence. It is corrosive, poisonous, and highly toxic, and even in cold, dark conditions, it reacts explosively with hydrogen. Fluorite is so reactive that it is difficult to

Find a container in which it can be stored safely. It is so potent that if stored in ordinary laboratory glass it can react, forming silicon tetrafluoride, a highly toxic gas which, if inhaled, causes pulmonary edema which can cause death. It must be handled with substances such as Teflon, extremely dry glass or metals, such as copper or steel, which form a protective layer of fluorine on its surface. Fluorine is very corrosive, burning skin and eyes, and can cause respiratory problems if inhaled.

Chlorine

It is a highly toxic pale greenish-yellow gas, which is about 2½ times denser than air with an unpleasantly suffocating, suffocating odor. The benign compound of chlorine and sodium has resulted in sodium chloride, our common but essential table salt. Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent and its container may explode if exposed to heat, igniting fuels. It is used to make many chemicals, including chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. It has been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Chlorine gas was first used as a weapon in World War I. It has reappeared in the Iraq War, where insurgents have used chlorine bombs against the local population and coalition forces.

Bromine

It is a reddish-brown volatile liquid whose vapors are toxic and corrosive. It has a strong, unpleasant, suffocating odor, similar to chlorine. Its name is derived from a Greek word for ‘stench’ which aptly describes it. It is a powerful oxidizing agent and can explode violently on contact with acetylene, ammonia, potassium, and many other elements and compounds. It is very dangerous in contact with the skin, causing burns and blisters. If inhaled, its poisonous vapors can cause severe damage to the respiratory system.

Iodine

This grayish-black solid is the least chemically active halogen. It is very corrosive and can cause dark spots on the skin, penetrating burns, irritation and damage to the cornea of ​​the eyes, which can lead to blindness. If inhaled, it is not as toxic as some of the other halogens, but it can cause shortness of breath and lead to serious respiratory problems. Iodine is a volatile solid that will explode on contact with bromine and other elements and compounds.

astatine

This is the rarest naturally occurring element and scientists estimate that there is no more than 25 grams, less than an ounce, in the earth’s crust. It is radioactive and decays rapidly, making it difficult to study its properties. It exists in nature as a result of the decay of uranium and thorium.

After reviewing the properties of the halogens, it becomes very apparent that they must be

drive carefully in the workplace. All of these elements present varying degrees of risk, ranging from the violent explosions of titanium tetrachloride to the dangers of dense clouds of hydrochloric acid gas.