Iodine monoxide is a binary inorganic compound of iodine and oxygen with the chemical formula IOâ¢. A free radical, this compound is the simplest of many iodine oxides. It is similar to the oxygen monofluoride, chlorine monoxide and bromine monoxide radicals.
Iodine monoxide can be obtained by the reaction between iodine and oxygen:
Iodine monoxide decomposes to its prime elements:
Iodine monoxide reacts with nitric oxide:
Atmospheric iodine atoms (e.g. from iodomethane) can react with ozone to produce the iodine monoxide radical:
This process can contribute to ozone depletion.