Dichloramine (IUPAC name: Azonous dichloride) is a reactive inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is one of the three chloramines of ammonia, the others being monochloramine () and nitrogen trichloride (). This yellow gas is unstable and reacts with many materials. It is formed by a reaction between ammonia and chlorine or sodium hypochlorite. It is a byproduct formed during the synthesis of monochloramine and nitrogen trichloride.

Synthesis

Dichloramine can be prepared by a reaction between monochloramine and chlorine or sodium hypochlorite, which forms hydrogen chloride as a byproduct:

It also occurs as a reaction between urea in urine and hypochlorite:

Reactions

Dichloramine reacts with the hydroxide ion, which can be present in water or comes from water molecules, to yield nitroxyl and the chloride ion.

References