What is Hypoiodous Acid?
Hypoiodous acid is a greenish-yellow solution with the chemical formula HOI. Hypoiodous Acid is an aqueous inorganic compound. Iodine acts as a catalyst reacts with hydroxyoxidanium ion to form hypoiodous acid. It is also formed along with iodide ions by dissolving iodine in dilute alkali or by action of mercuric oxide upon iodine and water. Hypoiodous Acid is a volatile iodine species neither elemental nor organic, which has been found in steam/air atmospheres.
Other names – Oxidoiodine
HOI | Hypoiodous Acid |
Conjugate base | Hypoiodite |
Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 143.89 g/mol |
Hydrogen Bond Donor | 1 |
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor | 1 |
Chemical Formula | HOI |
Hypoiodous Acid Synthesis – HOI
When iodine reacts with cold and dilute sodium hydroxide solution sodium hypoiodite is formed which undergoes hydrolysis to give hypoiodous acid.
- 2NaOH + I2 → NaIO + NaI + H2O
- NaIO + H2O → NaOH + HOI
Another reaction possible is
- NaOH + I2 → HOI + NaI
Hypoiodous Acid Structure – HOI
Physical Properties of Hypoiodous Acid – HOI
Odour | No odour |
Appearance | Greenish-yellow solution |
Covalently-Bonded Unit | 1 |
Heavy Atom Count | 2 |
Complexity | 2 |
Solubility in water | Soluble in water |
Uses of Hypoiodous Acid – HOI
- Used as a strong oxidizing agent and is used in rocket fuels and as an insulator.
- Used as an active agents in microbial destruction and the major iodine compounds used for sanitizing are iodophors, alcohol-iodine solutions, and aqueous iodine solutions.
- Used in atmospheric samplers so as to explain the abnormally high organic fractions reported by other investigators.
- Used as a source of ‘OH radicals.
- Used to eliminate chloramines from swimming pool water to avoid the build up of eye irritants.
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