Preparation
Magnesium bromite has the molecular formula of
Mg(BrO2)2 and a molecular weight of 248.1106 g/mol.
It can be prepared by a number of means including
the disproportionation of hypobromous acid, prepared
by dissolving bromine in water:
Mg(OH)2+2HBrO±heat→Mg(BrO2)2
However, a by-product of the reaction is likely to be
MgBr. The best way to prepare the pure salt, uncontaminated
by other forms is to react sodium bromate with
HBr gas in solution:
3Mg(OH)2 (solid)+ 2NaBrO3+ 6HBr(gas)
→3Mg(BrO2)2(aq)+ 2NaBr(aq)
Whether this salt can be isolated from solution
remains a mystery since no research papers have
appeared describing its physical or chemical properties.
Magnesium bromite is not available commercially.