1-Bromobutane: Essential Details, Structure, Applications, and Safe Handling

What Is 1-Bromobutane?

1-Bromobutane, known in the lab as an organobromine compound, shows up as a clear liquid with a faintly sweet smell. The molecular formula reads as C4H9Br. Each molecule stacks four carbon atoms in a straight chain, bonded with hydrogen, and tipped at one end by a single bromine atom. This seemingly simple switch from regular butane, putting bromine in for one hydrogen, changes both the behavior and the risks that workers face in the lab or on the factory floor. The CAS number tied to 1-Bromobutane is 109-65-9, and its HS Code for transport and customs stands at 29033920.

Properties and Physical Characteristics

Scale up 1-Bromobutane’s structure, and you see why folks use it as a chemical raw material. The compound checks in with a molar mass of 137.02 g/mol. Its boiling point tracks at about 101°C, while freezing happens all the way down near -112°C. Density lands at roughly 1.276 grams per cubic centimeter at room temperature. Pour the liquid and it flows with noticeable weight. 1-Bromobutane resists dissolving in water—think tiny droplets floating on top—but it goes right into organic solvents like ether or alcohols. In terms of appearance, it never shows up as a powder, flakes, pearls, or solid crystal under standard conditions; every shipment arrives as a clear, colorless liquid in glass bottles or steel drums. Some labs in cold climates might see it thicken up, but heat brings it right back to true liquid form.

Chemical Structure and Bonding Details

Examining this molecule close up, the skeleton runs CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2Br. Four carbons run in a row, and at the terminal position, one swaps in the bromine atom. Swapping in a heavy halogen like bromine shifts not just behavior but reactivity. Bromine’s presence punches up the molecule’s susceptibility to substitution reactions, so 1-Bromobutane serves as a go-to alkylating agent for all sorts of synthesis. The presence of non-polar and polar ends in one molecule bolsters its role in organic transformation reactions, making it a starter piece in making pharmaceuticals, surfactants, fragrances, and specialty chemicals.

Usage, Applications, and Raw Material Advantages

This compound acts as a classic raw material for synthesis in both fine chemical and bulk commodity chemical industries. Because the structure balances volatility and reactivity, chemists rely on it for building carbon chains or bringing a key four-carbon backbone into new molecules. It turns up in reactions leading to ethers, alcohols, amines, and other halogenated compounds. Manufacturers tap it to create intermediates for rubber accelerators, textile auxiliaries, and specialty solvents. In some research labs, 1-Bromobutane shapes the backbone for certain anesthetics and flavoring agents, or fuels the study of SN2 reaction mechanisms in undergraduate organic chemistry. Over the years, the track record for industrial reliability made this material a fixture on plant supply shelves.

Hazards and Safety

Working with 1-Bromobutane brings well-documented risks, particularly for those who handle drums, fill pipettes, or spend hours near open bottles. The chemical classifies as harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or touched. Vapors can irritate lungs, eyes, and skin. Liquid splashed on skin brings redness and soreness; if inhaled at higher concentrations, the user faces dizziness or headaches. Environmental data shows this material floats on water but does not break down easily, calling for careful waste collection and spill prevention. Safety boils down to good ventilation, gloves, goggles, and spill kits at every bench. Workers lean on Material Safety Data Sheets for updates as research uncovers new risks or regulations move the safety bar. Labels warn clearly about the need for fire precautions too, since 1-Bromobutane can ignite when lit by a flame or spark. Lockup practices—tight seals, cool storage areas, grounded metal drums—keep both product and people protected.

Specifications and Transport

Drums and bottles deliver 1-Bromobutane in clear liquid form. Customers measure quality by purity (usually 99% or better), color, absence of suspended matter, and low water content. Each lot’s paperwork spells out these specs, often backed by GC or NMR data and a batch report. The density remains a key check for both buyers and import officials looking to match paperwork with physical delivery. International trade relies on the HS Code 29033920 for export-import filing. This chemical, while not a restricted controlled substance in many regions, rides inside hazardous goods compartments and comes with shipping placards reflecting its flammability and toxicity status—hazard code UN1126 for many handlers. Customs clearance expects paperwork on purity, safety, and batch identification, so supply chain staff double-check labels, lids, and saran seals before boxes hit the dock.

Practical Considerations and Safe Use on the Job

My time coaching young techs in industrial labs, I saw more than one incident caused by underestimating this chemical’s risks. Gloves with visible seams and safety goggles made the difference between a minor scare and a trip to an urgent care. Full chemical-resistant aprons come out during transfer jobs. Fume hoods stay active during pipetting or heating, as vapor control stands as the top priority. Proper waste containers—clearly marked for halogenated waste—carry spent material away. Spilled liquid gets cleaned with absorbent pads and reported, as no drop is too minor to ignore for staff health or environmental impact. Hands-on training from old-timers matters, since no two containers, brands, or deliveries ever seem to behave exactly alike. As more small suppliers kick up online sales to research groups and companies worldwide, packaging robustness, paperwork accuracy, and honest hazard communication mean more than any glossy brochure. Flaws in documentation or rushed delivery never make up for losses from a handle snapped or a label half-peeled.

Environmental Impact and Responsible Sourcing

Wider conversations about chemical raw materials today focus on supply chain integrity, waste treatment, and possible exposure in air or groundwater. 1-Bromobutane does not show high persistence in air, but in groundwater or soil, breakdown crawls. Older manufacturing regions worry about deep aquifer contamination. Smart buyers ask for information on waste facilities at suppliers. Regions with better environmental controls, through either law or industry oversight, deliver tighter paperwork and a safer product chain. As chemical engineers rethink synthesis, green chemistry pushes some labs to look for less hazardous alternatives or reclaim used bromobutanes. Off-the-books dumping or corner-cutting endangers not just a single workplace, but whole communities. Community complaints about strange odors, headaches, or mystery spills often start with a single bottle mishandled. More rigorous inspections, clear container tracking, and real root-cause investigations—the sort learned through years of experience in production—stand out as the real safeguards.