Bromic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A chemical term referring to a compound that contains bromine in a higher oxidation state, typically showing more significant reactivity
2. Describing substances or compounds where bromine exhibits a oxidation state of +3 or higher, often in reactions with other elements
3. Pertaining to the chemistry of bromine, particularly those compounds that demonstrate the element's properties at elevated oxidation levels

Etymology: Bromine was named in 1826 by the French chemist Antoine Jérôme Balard, who isolated it from brine. The name comes from the Greek "brômos," meaning "stench," a reference to its sharp, unpleasant odour. Chemists then built a family of names on that root, and "bromic" is one of them: it is "brom-" with the English adjectival suffix "-ic" attached. The suffix does the chemical work. In the nomenclature used for inorganic acids and their salts, "-ic" marks a compound in which the element holds a higher oxidation state than in the corresponding "-ous" form, so "bromic" describes bromine in that elevated state. Bromic acid, with bromine at +5, is the standard example of the pattern.

Synonyms: brominated