Halites and Halates

The hypoiodite ion is much less stable than the other hypohalite ions, decomposing almost completely to iodate and iodide in a few hours, whereas the corresponding decomposition of hypochlorite at the same concentration and the same temperature requires several years. 

Although there is no clear evidence for the hypcfiuorite ion, OF, a number of compounds having 0—F bonds have recently been prepared. These are formally similar to hypofluorites  

These compounds, like the related 0F2, oxidize water to oxygen. 

Of the oxy-anions having halogens in the +3 valence state, only the chlorite ion appears to be stable the alkali-metal chlorites are of some importance as cellulose bleaches. The chlorite ion results (along with an equivalent amount of chlorate) when C102 is dissolved in basic solution, a reaction analogous to the well known basic hydrolysis of NO. It is interesting that chlorites may also result from the reduction of C102 by peroxide in alkaline media  

The chlorate, bromate, and iodate ions are stable in solution, and many salts derived from these anions are familiar compounds. Although, as we have seen, the halate ions result from basic hydrolysis of the elemental halogens in warm solution, such a hydrolysis is generally not the method of choice for preparation of pure halates, since five sixths of the halogen 

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