Bromine in Water - DIY Test

How can you test for bromine in your water?

We offer 2 options for testing bromine in your water: the first requires a photometer, while the second is completely standalone, with results you read by eye.

Because of the way results are read, the photometer test is much more accurate and gives you a precise level.

The standalone test, although very reliable, leaves a little more room for interpretation and gives you a small range of results.

Testing with a photometer

A photometer is an instrument used to measure light intensity or the concentration of a chemical substance in a sample. It works by detecting how much light the sample absorbs or transmits and converting this into a numerical reading.

In water chemistry, a photometer is used to measure the concentration of various compounds in water.

The 100 test strips supplied in the kit are coated with a reagent that reacts to the total bromine in the water being tested. The device then converts this reaction into a precise, easy-to-read value.

Bromine testing procedure with the eXact iDip photometer

1. Pour the water you want to test into the designated cell in the IDIP photometer.
2. Soak the bromine test strip for 20 seconds
3. The bromine level appears on the photometer and on your phone (if you have synced the photometer with your smartphone!)

Bromine testing procedure with the eXact iDip photometer

	Remove a test strip from the container before starting the test. Leave it in a dry, easily accessible place, and close the container immediately.
	Turn on the photometer by pressing the ON/ZERO button. The screen will show all indicators, then the selected menu, then the most recent results.
	Press the SELECT button repeatedly to choose the group: the bromine test is in group 6. Then press the MENU button repeatedly to select the test parameter: bR. (You can find all this information in a table in the user manual supplied with the device)
	Rinse the test cell at least 3 times with the water you are going to test (to reduce the risk of cross-contamination from your previous test). Finally, fill the small cell completely with the water you want to test.
	Press the ON/ZERO button. The cursor will move across the screen before it displays 0.00PM. This indicates that the sample is ready to be tested.
	Dip the appropriate test strip into the small cell, and immediately press the READ button. This starts a 20-second countdown. During the countdown, gently move the strip back and forth (about 1 back-and-forth movement per second). As soon as the "1" disappears from the screen, remove the strip.
	The cursor will move across the screen while the photometer prepares the test results. Note the value displayed for the parameter. This value is automatically saved in the MENU, and if you use the exact iDip app, the results will be saved in its "RESULTS" section. After the test, rinse the cell and clean it with the small brush.

Testing with standalone test strips

This strip test is extremely easy to use:

Take a test strip and dip it into the water	After about twenty seconds, compare the color of the strip with the scale on the back of the container.

The test strip result depends on the method used:

• Method A: 0; 0.5; 1; 2, 3, 4, or 5 mg/L (or ppm)
• Method B: 0.00; 0.05; 0.1; 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75 mg/L (or ppm)
  

For accurate results with method A based on temperature.

For accurate results with method B based on temperature.

Scientific information about bromine in water

Sources of bromine in water

Bromine occurs in nature only in derivative forms called bromides : salts and brominated organic substances produced by marine organisms. It is found as a soluble salt in seawater, lake water, and brine. 
Highly corrosive and destructive to organic matter, bromine is commonly used to disinfect swimming pools and cooling towers, or as a bleaching agent, but is not used to disinfect drinking water.

Seawater contains approximately 65 ppm of bromine.

Brine contains between 2,500 and 10,000 ppm of bromine.

Effects of bromine on the body

In liquid form, bromine is poisonous, and its vapors are also very harsh on human skin, eyes, and the respiratory system, potentially causing severe burns.

A bromine level of 1 ppm can cause eye irritation, and inhaling a concentration above 10 ppm causes coughing and respiratory tract irritation.