Halothane (trademarked as Fluothane) is an inhalational general anesthetic. Its IUPAC name is 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane. It is the only inhalational anesthetic containing a bromine atom; several other halogenated anesthesia agents lack the bromine atom and do contain the fluorine and chlorine atoms present in halothane. It is colorless and pleasant-smelling, but unstable in light. It is packaged in dark-colored bottles and contains 0.01% thymol as a stabilizing agent.It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system. Its use in developed countries, however, has been almost entirely superseded by newer inhalational anaesthetic agents such as sevoflurane, isoflurane, and desflurane.