Halogen only periodic table group that contains elements in three of the main states of matter at standard temperature and pressure. All of the halogens form acids when bonded to hydrogen. Most halogens are typically produced from minerals or salts. The middle halogens, that is chlorine, bromine and iodine, are often used as disinfectants. Organobromides are the most important class of flame retardants. Elemental halogens are dangerous and can be lethally toxic. The fluorine mineral fluorospar was known as early as 1529. Early chemists realized that fluorine compounds contain an undiscovered element, but were unable to isolate it. In 1860, George
Bromine trifluoride fluoroanions: Bromine trifluoride Bromine trifluoride is an interhalogen compound with the formula BrF. It is a straw-coloured liquid with a pungent odor. It is soluble in sulfuric acid but reacts violently with water and organic compounds. It is a powerful fluorinating agent and an ionizing inorganic solvent. It is used to produce uranium hexafluoride (UF) in the processing and reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Bromine trifluoride was first described by Paul Lebeau in 1906, who obtained the material by the reaction of bromine with fluorine at 20 °C: The disproportionation of bromine monofluoride also gives bromine trifluoride: Like ClF and IF,