bromine forms compounds in many oxidation states: –1, +1, +3, +5, and (sometimes) +7. –1 is the most common. it is found as bromide. bromides are not reactive. they are colorless solids that dissolve in water easily. covalent bromides can be liquids or gases. the other compounds are all strong oxidizing agents. their chlorine cousins are more common. +1 has the hypobromites, which are unstable. +3 has the bromites. bromine dioxide is the only common bromine compound found in the +4 oxidation state. +5 has the bromates, which are more common than all the other ones except the bromides. bromates are strong oxidizing agents and are sometimes added to flour. +7 has the perbromates. perbromates are very unstable.