1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin

DBDMH

Names
IUPAC name 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin
Other names Albrom 100, DBDMH, Dibromantin, Dibromodimethylhydantoin, XtraBrom 111
Identifiers
CAS Number	77-48-5 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	6234 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.938
InChI InChI=1S/C5H6Br2N2O2/c1-5(2)3(10)8(6)4(11)9(5)7/h1-2H3 Y Key: VRLDVERQJMEPIF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C5H6Br2N2O2/c1-5(2)3(10)8(6)4(11)9(5)7/h1-2H3 Key: VRLDVERQJMEPIF-UHFFFAOYAQ
SMILES O=C1N(Br)C(=O)N(Br)C1(C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C5H6Br2N2O2
Molar mass	285.92 g·mol−1
Appearance	White solid
Density	1.36 g/cm3
Melting point	197 to 203 °C (387 to 397 °F; 470 to 476 K)
Solubility in water	0.1 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Y  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

DBDMH is an organic compound derived from the heterocycle called dimethylhydantoin. This white crystalline compound with a slight bromine odor is widely used as a disinfectant used for drinking water purification, recreational water treatment, as a bleaching agent in pulp and paper mills, and for treating industrial/commercial water cooling systems. Its action does not involve the use of hypochlorous acid.

DBDMH is a source of bromine, which is equivalent to hypobromous acid (HOBr).

(Where H₂X is 5,5-dimethylhydantoin)

With a pK_a of 8.6, hypobromous acid partially dissociates in water:

Hypobromous acid serves as a source of "Br⁺," which produces bromide ions in the process of disinfection:

The resulting bromide ions can then undergo oxidation to hypobromous acid in the presence of an oxidizer of sufficient strength e.g. ozone, hypochlorous acid, potassium monopersulfate. This reoxidation process is commonly called "activation" of the bromide ion: