The kinetics of the disproportionation reaction of bromine(III), 2Br(III) -Br(1) + Br(V), was studied in phosphate buffer, in the pH range 5.9-8.0, by monitoring optical absorbance at 294 nm using stopped-flow,The dependences on C?H+ and [Br(III)] were of order 1 and 2, respectivley, and no dependence on [Br-] was found. The reaction was also studied in acetate buffer, in the pH range 3.9-5.6. Within experimental error, no evidence was found for a direct reaction between two BrO2-ions. This study yields rate constants 39.1 f 2.6 M-I s-l for the reaction HBrO2 + BrO2--HOBr + Br03-and 800 f 100 M-' for the reaction 2HBr02 -HOBr + Br03-+ H + and an equilibrium quotient for HBr02 e H + + BrOz-of 3.7 f 0.9 X 10-4 M (pKa = 3.43) at ionic strength 0.06 M and 25.0 f 0.1 OC. The bromous acid dissociation constant is essentially identical to the value previously obtained from a kinetics study of the bromine(II1)-I-reaction (J. Phys. Chem. 1992, 96, 6861).