Halite (oxyanion)
# Halite (oxyanion)

A halite, also known as a halogenite, is an oxyanion containing a halogen in a III oxidation state. It is the conjugate base of a halous acid. The known halites are chlorite, bromite, and iodite.

## Uses

Halites can be used to generate the respective halogen dioxides via a one-electron oxidation:

    5 $NaClO_2$ + 4 HCl → 5 NaCl + 4 $ClO^•$ $_2$ + 2 $H_2O$
    $BrO^−$ $_2$ + $HBrO_3$ + $H^+$ → 2 $BrO^•$ $_2$ + $H_2O$

This reaction in particular is used in bleach to generate chlorine dioxide.

## Stability

Chlorites tend to decompose rapidly, some even explosively, upon heating. A few bromites have been isolated, but no iodites have.

