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Hypobromous acid facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hypobromous acid is a special chemical compound and also an acid. Its chemical formula is HBrO. This means it is made of hydrogen, bromine, and oxygen. It is a weak and unstable acid. This means it doesn't stay in its original form for long. It is quite similar to hypochlorous acid.

What is Hypobromous Acid?

Hypobromous acid is a chemical that contains hydrogen and hypobromite ions. It is known as a "weak" acid because it doesn't fully break apart into its ions when it's in water. It is also "unstable," meaning it can easily change into other chemicals.

How is it Made?

You can make hypobromous acid by mixing bromine with warm water. When bromine, which is a reddish-brown liquid, reacts with water, it forms this acid. This reaction is a chemical change.

What Does it Do?

Hypobromous acid is a powerful chemical. It can kill many types of bacteria. This makes it useful for cleaning and keeping things safe from germs. It can also help to deodorize things, which means it removes bad smells. It works very well when it is used together with hypochlorous acid.

How it Changes

Because hypobromous acid is unstable, it can break down into other chemicals. When it gets hot or dries out, it changes into bromate and bromide. This process is called disproportionation. It means the acid changes into two different substances.

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Hypobromous acid Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.