Hypoiodous acid is the inorganic compound with the

chemical formula In chemistry, a chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbol ...

HIO. It forms when an aqueous solution of iodine is treated with mercuric or silver salts. It rapidly decomposes by

disproportionation In chemistry, disproportionation, sometimes called dismutation, is a redox reaction in which one compound of intermediate oxidation state converts to two compounds, one of higher and one of lower oxidation states. More generally, the term can ...

: : 5 HIO → HIO₃ + 2 I₂ + 2 H₂O Hypoiodites of alkali and alkaline earth metals can be made in cold dilute solutions if iodine is added to their respective hydroxides. Hypoiodous acid is a weak acid with a p''K''_a of about 11. The conjugate base is hypoiodite (IO⁻). Salts of this anion can be prepared by treating I₂ with alkali hydroxides. They rapidly disproportionate to form

iodide An iodide ion is the ion I−. Compounds with iodine in formal oxidation state −1 are called iodides. In everyday life, iodide is most commonly encountered as a component of iodized salt, which many governments mandate. Worldwide, iodine de ...

s and

iodate An iodate is the polyatomic anion with the formula . It is the most common form of iodine in nature, as it comprises the major iodine-containing ores. Iodate salts are often colorless. They are the salts of iodic acid. Structure Iodate is pyr ...

References

Hypoiodites Hydrogen compounds Iodine compounds Oxidizing acids Oxidizing agents {{Inorganic-compound-stub