Dichloramine is a reactive inorganic compound with the chemical formula NHCl2. It is one of the three chloramines of ammonia, the others being monochloramine (NH2Cl) and nitrogen trichloride (NCl3). 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:

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.