Chloride ion and Bromide ion

[09659]

Sodium Chloride and Sodium Bromide vs Chloride ion and Bromide ion.

For sanitation purposes, it seems that we only need the Chloride ion and the Bromide ion. Is this correct? Sodium isn't needed for the actual sanitation process, correct?

Sodium Chloride is a Chloride Reserve Raising agent?

Sodium Bromide is a Bromide Reserve Raising agent?

 

[JasonLion]

Chloride is not needed. For bromine related sanitation all you *need* is bromine. For chlorine related sanitation all you *need* is hypochlorous acid. In both cases you almost invariably get some chloride coming along for the ride as part of the process of getting the sanitizer into the water.

When bromine gets used up it converts to bromide, which can be reactivated into bromine again using an oxidizer. The bromide level is often spoken of as a bromine reserve.

When hypochlorous acid gets used up it converts into chloride. From there, there are two routes to getting more hypochlorous acid in the water. Either add more hypochlorous acid, or use a SWG to convert the chloride back into hypochlorous acid. No one speaks of chloride forming a hypochlorous acid reserve. Even though there are some parallels with the bromine/bromide process, it really isn't the same thing.

In all cases, any sodium present is irrelevant. Sodium is one of several elements that might be used to help stabilize the chemicals we are really interested in for transport. Once dissolved in the water the sodium ions just hang out and are not involved in the process. In both cases it is possible to replace the sodium with something else, such as potassium, though sodium is generally the least expensive/easiest choice.