Hypobromite facts for kids
Hypobromite is a special kind of ion. An ion is like a tiny particle that has an electric charge. The chemical formula for hypobromite is BrO-. This means it has one bromine atom and one oxygen atom, and it carries a negative charge.
Hypobromite is known as an oxidizing agent. This means it can take electrons from other substances, which often causes a chemical change. It's quite similar to hypochlorite, which you might know from bleach.
Hypobromites are also salts. In chemistry, a salt is a compound formed when an acid and a base react. Hypobromites come from hypobromous acid.
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What Hypobromite Does
Hypobromite is a powerful disinfectant. This means it's very good at killing germs and bacteria.
In Your Body
Believe it or not, hypobromite plays a role inside your body! Some of your white blood cells, which are part of your immune system, use hypobromite. They change a substance called bromide into hypobromite using something called peroxide. Then, they use this hypobromite to kill harmful germs and protect you from sickness.
In Swimming Pools
Hypobromite is also used to keep swimming pools clean and safe. Sometimes, pool owners add bromides to the water. When chlorine is also present, it helps to create hypobromite. This hypobromite then works as a disinfectant, helping to kill germs and keep the pool water clean for swimmers.
How Hypobromite is Made
You can make hypobromites by dissolving bromine in a basic solution. A basic solution is the opposite of an acidic one; it's alkaline, like soap.
When hypobromite is heated, it can change into other substances. It can turn into bromate and bromide through a process called disproportionation. This means it changes into two different compounds, where some of it is oxidized and some is reduced.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Hipobromito para niños
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