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Hypobromous acid

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Hypobromous acid
Space-filling model of hypobromous acid
Names
IUPAC name
hypobromous acid, bromic(I) acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.119.006 Edit this at Wikidata
  • InChI=1S/BrHO/c1-2/h2H checkY
    Key: CUILPNURFADTPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1S/BrHO/c1-2/h2H
    Key: CUILPNURFADTPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/BrHO/c1-2/h2H
    Key: CUILPNURFADTPE-UHFFFAOYAL
  • OBr
Properties
HBrO
Molar mass 96.911
Density 2.470 g/cm
Boiling point 20–25 °C (68–77 °F; 293–298 K)
Acidity (pKa) 8.65
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Hypobromous acid is a very weak and unstable acid with chemical formula of HOBr. It is also called bromic(I) acid, bromanol or hydroxidobromine. It occurs only in solution and has chemical and physical properties that are very similar to those of other hypohalites. Its salts (hypobromites) are also unstable.

Synthesis and properties

Addition of bromine to water gives hypobromous acid and hydrobromic acid (HBr) via a disproportionation reaction.

Br2 + H2O HOBr + HBr

Hypobromous acid has a pKa of 8.65 and is therefore only partially dissociated in water at pH 7. Like the acid, hypobromite salts are unstable and undergo a slow disproportionation reaction to yield the respective bromate and bromide salts.

3BrO(aq) → 2Br(aq) + BrO
3
(aq)

Uses

HOBr is used as a bleach, an oxidizer, a deodorant, and a disinfectant, due to its ability to kill the cells of many pathogens. The compound is generated in warm-blooded vertebrate organisms especially by eosinophils, which produce it by the action of eosinophil peroxidase, an enzyme which preferentially uses bromide.[1] Bromide is also used in hot tubs and spas as a germicidal agent, using the action of an oxidizing agent to generate hypobromite in a similar fashion to the peroxidase in eosinophils. It is especially effective when used in combination with its congener, hypochlorous acid.

References

  1. ^ Mayeno, AN; Curran, AJ; Roberts, RL; Foote, CS (1989). "Eosinophils preferentially use bromide to generate halogenating agents -- Mayeno et al. 264 (10): 5660 -- Journal of Biological Chemistry". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 264 (10): 5660–8. PMID 2538427. Retrieved 2008-01-12.