Halideoxides

Halideoxides is a broad, informal term for chemical species that contain both a halogen element (F, Cl, Br, I, At) and oxygen, typically bonded in a way that yields either neutral oxides or oxoanions in salts. The category encompasses neutral halogen oxides as well as halogen oxoanions that occur in aqueous or salt form. The field covers fundamental gas-phase molecules, laboratory preparations, and compounds of interest in atmospheric chemistry and inorganic synthesis.

Neutral halogen oxides include molecules such as chlorine monoxide (ClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), and higher oxides like dichlorine heptoxide (Cl2O7). Many of these species are highly reactive and exist only briefly under ambient conditions, often studied as transient intermediates or in controlled environments. Interhalogen oxides, where a halogen oxide is bonded to another halogen, are related but considered a distinct subset in some classifications.

Halide oxoanions arise from oxoacids of halogens and are commonly encountered as salts. They are grouped by oxidation state into hypohalites (XO−), halites (XO2−), halates (XO3−), and perhalates (XO4−). Examples include hypochlorite (ClO−), chlorite (ClO2−), chlorate (ClO3−), and perchlorate (ClO4−); analogous anions exist for bromine and iodine (e.g., bromate BrO3−, iodate IO3−, periodate IO4−). These ions are typically stable in solution or as crystalline salts and are used as reagents, disinfectants, or oxidizing agents.

Applications and significance vary by subclass: atmospheric chemistry relies on halogen oxides as reactive intermediates; oxoanions are central to inorganic synthesis, electrochemistry, and environmental chemistry. Safety considerations reflect the strong oxidizing nature of many halideoxides and their oxoanions.