Hypobromous acid

 ( Hypobromites ) 

Hypobromous acid is an inorganic compound with chemical formula of . It is a weak, unstable acid. It is mainly produced and handled in an aqueous solution. It is generated both biologically and commercially as a disinfectant. Salts of hypobromite are rarely isolated as solids.

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Synthesis and properties Bromine water gives hypobromous acid and hydrobromic acid (HBr(aq)) via a disproportionation reaction.

HOBr + HBr

In nature, hypobromous acid is produced by , which are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of bromide with hydrogen peroxide:Ximenes, V. F., Morgon, N. H., & de Souza, A. R. (2015). Hypobromous acid, a powerful endogenous electrophile: Experimental and theoretical studies. Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 146, 61-68.

Hypobromous acid has a p K_a 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.

Its chemical and physical properties are similar to those of other .

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Uses HOBr is used as a bleach, an oxidizer, a deodorant, and a disinfectant, due to its ability to kill the cells of many . 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. Bromide is also used in 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.

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