Bromine is similar to chlorine but cannot be used for which of the following purposes?

Bromine is a sanitizing agent that is often compared to chlorine due to its effectiveness in swimming pool water treatment. However, one significant difference lies in its capability for stabilization. Chlorine can be stabilized through the use of cyanuric acid, which protects it from being degraded by sunlight. This stabilization leads to a longer-lasting effect, particularly when the pool is exposed to UV rays.

Bromine, on the other hand, does not have a stabilizer in the same sense that chlorine does. It can be effective for disinfection and oxidation processes, just like chlorine, allowing it to kill bacteria and other pathogens and to break down organic material in the water. While bromine can also act as an algaecide, its lack of stabilization means that it will dissipate more quickly in the sunlight. This is why it is not used for stabilization; its properties do not allow it to be effectively shielded from the harmful effects of UV radiation in the same way that chlorine can be. Understanding this distinction is important for those managing pool chemistry, as it influences the choice of chemical treatment based on exposure conditions.