Hypoiodous acid
Encyclopedia
Hypoiodous acid is formed when mercury(II) oxide
is shaken with aqueous iodine. It rapidly decomposes by disproportionation
:
Reactive solutions of hypoiodites (salts of hypoiodous acid) can be prepared by reacting I2 with alkali hydroxides.. They rapidly disproportionate to form iodides and iodate
s.
In theory, HIO should be a powerful disinfectant as it is the iodine analogue to the hypochlorous acid formed when mixing chlorine with water. HIO is likely the active ingredient responsible for disinfection by iodine solutions used in the medical profession such as betadine or povidone iodine.
Mercury(II) oxide
Mercury oxide, also called mercuric oxide or simply mercury oxide, has a formula of HgO. It has a red or orange color. Mercury oxide is a solid at room temperature and pressure...
is shaken with aqueous iodine. It rapidly decomposes by disproportionation
Disproportionation
Disproportionation, also known as dismutation is used to describe a specific type of redox reaction in which a species is simultaneously reduced and oxidized so as to form two different products....
:
- 5HIO → HIO3 + 2I2 + 2H2O
Reactive solutions of hypoiodites (salts of hypoiodous acid) can be prepared by reacting I2 with alkali hydroxides.. They rapidly disproportionate to form iodides and iodate
Iodate
An iodate is a conjugate base of iodic acid. In the iodate anion, iodine is bonded to three oxygen atoms and the molecular formula is IO3−. The molecular geometry of iodate is trigonal pyramidal....
s.
In theory, HIO should be a powerful disinfectant as it is the iodine analogue to the hypochlorous acid formed when mixing chlorine with water. HIO is likely the active ingredient responsible for disinfection by iodine solutions used in the medical profession such as betadine or povidone iodine.