Bromoform, also known as tribromomethane, carries the chemical formula CHBr3. Some refer to it as Bromo Form, but the industry recognizes it under several names and grades. Suppliers and manufacturers often list it by its CAS number, 75-25-2, which ensures clarity in global trade and compliance. In basic terms, bromoform looks like a heavy, colorless to slightly yellow liquid and gives off a strong smell. Its molecular weight sits at about 252.73 g/mol. Its specific gravity, or density, lands near 2.89 at room temperature, making it much heavier than water. For researchers, these numbers matter, as even small handling errors can skew laboratory results.
Bromoform price fluctuates along with the broader specialty chemicals market. Bulk pricing holds steady for large consumers, like the pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors, since buying direct from a bromoform manufacturer or bromoform distributor often trims unnecessary mark-ups. For scientists and lab managers, the story changes. A small bottle from Sigma Aldrich, Merck, or Fisher Scientific—the popular names in specialty reagents—costs much more per gram. Supply chain disruptions in bromine-heavy regions ripple out, driving up costs for bromoform lab use or for customers seeking high-purity or reagent grades.
It gets more complicated as regulations continue to tighten. Handling licenses for bromoform bulk require paperwork, and freight companies hesitate to move it unless paperwork is airtight. In my years sourcing chemical standards and intermediates, I’ve learned to double-check both the bromoform MSDS and the distributor’s hazard protocols. Shipment holds can last weeks if paperwork mentions outdated specifications or missing hazard classifications. Bromoform’s UN shipping number places it on restricted lists for many air and sea carriers.
End users pay close attention to bromoform specification and grade. Reagent grade and AR (analytical reagent) grade guarantee purity for demanding tests and processes. The specs for a bromoform laboratory application spell out purity, water content, melting and boiling points, and allowable impurities. Industrial-grade bromoform cuts costs, used in bulk processes where minor impurities don’t affect final products.
As with many halomethanes, small impurities can cause big headaches in precision work. The details on a bromoform safety data sheet (SDS) will tell about water content, residual solvents, visible color, and sometimes infrared spectra or GC-MS trace scans. For a chemist running sensitive NMR analysis, even a trace contaminant might throw the whole experiment off. At higher scale, buyers screen for the lowest price that still meets their benchmarks, looking for a reliable bromoform supplier with documented product analysis. I’ve sat through many calls discussing not just the bromoform price, but why a competitor’s certificate of analysis looked shaky compared to Sigma Aldrich or Merck’s batch QC reports.
Bromoform’s density—about 2.89 g/cm³ at 20°C—stands out among solvents and test liquids. The high specific gravity proves useful in laboratories. I remember using it for density separation in geology labs, sorting mineral grains by floating heavier ones. Its melting point sits just above freezing, at 8°C, while the boiling point clocks in near 150°C. These properties limit some applications but open up others: in some syntheses, the lower melting point allows easy removal by cooling, while the higher boiling point supports longer reactions without too much loss to evaporation.
Bromoform’s main role grew out of its unique properties. As a chemist, I’ve valued its density for mineral separations. Its once common use in laboratories included determining mineral species, where a dropperful in a glass tube could reveal which crystals were lighter or heavier than the liquid. In the synthetic lab, its use shifted; its stable C-H bond and heavy bromine atoms drew the attention of pharmaceutical and academic groups as a reagent or as a bromine source. Bulk industries historically used it to extract precious metals or as a flame retardant additive, although that practice faded as safety and toxicity concerns increased.
Modern demand focuses on its role as an intermediate. Chemical manufacturers in China, India, and Europe continue to improve process yields for brominated compounds by controlling the purity of bromoform used in synthesis. Medical research explores analogs of tribromomethane for disease models, though few drugs use bromoform directly because of safety and toxicity questions.
No bromoform commentary feels honest without addressing safety. Most chemical suppliers—Sigma Aldrich, Merck, Fisher Scientific—offer exhaustive bromoform MSDS and safety data sheets. Bromoform vapor irritates eyes and lungs. Liquid on skin risks systemic absorption. Long-term studies suggest carcinogenic potential and nervous system effects at higher exposures. From my own lab work, the rule of thumb was always: closed bottles, fume hoods, gloves, and no open-air manipulations. Spills required immediate cleanup and careful labeling of all waste streams.
Industrial consumers balance regulatory compliance with practical safety. National and international agencies set strict bromoform exposure limits. The right supplier provides not just a quality product but also technical support and up-to-date SDS files tailored to local regulations. I’ve seen less-experienced buyers overlook the importance of a current MSDS only to hit project delays from surprise audits or insurance reviews.
Choosing a source isn’t just about cost. Buyers want a bromoform supplier who delivers reliable specification and safety information, with full traceability on every lot. The classic brands—Sigma Aldrich Bromoform, Merck Bromoform, Fisher Scientific Bromoform—stay popular because their documentation survives regulatory scrutiny and their logistics teams keep hazardous shipments moving. Regional distributors in Asia, North America, and Europe play a role for bulk bromoform price negotiation and flexible delivery terms. Smaller labs seeking bromoform high purity usually pay more for analytical-grade samples and peace of mind.
For certain uses, scientists now substitute other halogenated reagents with friendlier safety profiles. Tribromomethane stands alongside analogs like chloroform or dibromomethane, each with their own set of hazards. The search for greener solvents continues. For industrial process engineers, even a small reduction in toxic byproducts pays off. Modern labs look for in-line analytical verification, protecting teams from exposure and quickly flagging contaminated batches before they go into scale-up.
Progress in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and environmental monitoring still leans on the reliable supply of specialty chemicals like bromoform. The best suppliers help maintain transparent channels between manufacturer and end user, sharing up-to-date bromoform analysis and best practices. This approach answers the needs of chemists who want robust performance in both literature-standard reactions and new, innovative syntheses.
Growing up in the lab world, I’ve learned that quality, safety, and technical support beat rock-bottom price every time for tricky chemicals like bromoform. An experienced supplier answers questions, confirms product suitability, and stands ready with documents when compliance deadlines loom. For those who rely on the precision and reactivity of CHBr3, choosing the right partner—whether aiming for bromoform laboratory use or industrial-scale synthesis—means more accurate science and fewer regulatory headaches down the road.