Chlorination of water containing bromide and formationof the bromine - substituted trihalomethanes

Based on the experiments , it is evident that the formation of bromine - substituted trihalomethaneswas due to hypobromous acid formed in oxidation of the bromide in water by chlorine, and these chlorine andbromine could chlorinate or/and brominate humic acid. Although the chlorine atoms in chloroform can be di-rectly substituted by bromine, this reaction is only the secondary route.