Bromine What is it? What does it do?

BROMINE (BCDMH)

Bromine, like chlorine is a member of the halogen family i.e it kills bacteria, viruses and algae and oxidises. Elemental bromine is a reddish brown colour and is liquid at room temperature. The form used in private and commercial pools is the tabletted version - BCDMH, or bromochlorodimethylhydantoin. (It becomes less daunting if you split it up into its component bits - bromo chloro di methyl hydantoin). BCDMH dissolves in water to release hypobromous acid and hypochlorous acid. The hypochlorous acid serves to regenerate the spent bromine. It is dosed into the pool by means of a circulatory feeder.

Now you're really confused, huh? What this is saying is that bromine is related to things like chlorine (bleach) and iodine (that nasty stuff you put on a cut). It is a really strong chemical used to help keep swimming pools clean, too. This is something you can relate to!