Bromine monoxide is a binary
inorganic compound
An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bondsthat is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''.
Inorgan ...
of
bromine
Bromine is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Br and atomic number 35. It is a volatile red-brown liquid at room temperature that evaporates readily to form a similarly coloured vapour. Its properties are intermediate between th ...
and
oxygen
Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...
with the chemical formula BrO. A
free radical
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...
, this compound is the simplest of many
bromine oxide
Bromine can form several different oxides:
* Dibromine monoxide (Br2O)
* Bromine dioxide (BrO2)
* Dibromine trioxide (Br2O3)
* Dibromine pentoxide (Br2O5)
* Tribromine octoxide (Br3O8)
Also, a number of ions are bromine oxides:
* Hypobromite ...
s. The compound is capable of influencing atmospheric chemical processes. Naturally, BrO can be found in volcanic plumes. BrO is similar to the
oxygen monofluoride,
chlorine monoxide and
iodine monoxide radicals.
Chemical properties
The compound is very effective as a catalyst of the ozone destruction. The chemical reaction of BrO and
chlorine dioxide
Chlorine dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula ClO2 that exists as yellowish-green gas above 11 °C, a reddish-brown liquid between 11 °C and −59 °C, and as bright orange crystals below −59 °C. It is usually ...
(OClO) results in
ozone depletion
Ozone depletion consists of two related events observed since the late 1970s: a lowered total amount of ozone in Earth, Earth's upper atmosphere, and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone (the ozone layer) around Earth's polar ...
in the stratosphere.
References
{{Bromine compounds
Bromine compounds
Diatomic molecules
Oxides
Free radicals