Hypobromous acid

  Hypobromous acid is a weak, unstable acid with chemical formula HBrO. It occurs only in solution and has chemical and physical properties that are very similar to those of hypochlorous acid.

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In aqueous solution, hypobromous acid partially decomposes into the hypobromite anion BrO⁻ and the cation H⁺. The salts of hypobromous acid are also called hypobromites. Like the acid, these salts are unstable and when evaporated or boiled to dryness, they undergo a disproportionation reaction, yielding the respective bromate and bromide salts.

When pure bromine is added to water, it forms hypobromous acid and hydrobromic acid (HBr):

Br₂(l) + H₂O(l) → HOBr(aq) + HBr (aq)

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 esoinophil 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.