Iodite is an anion composed of iodine and oxygen, with the chemical formula IO−
2. Within this ion the iodine exists in oxidation state III.
Iodites (including iodous acid) are highly unstable and have never been isolated. However they have been detected as intermediates in the conversion between iodide and iodate.
Other oxyanions
Iodine can assume oxidation states of −1, +1, +3, +5, or +7. A number of neutral iodine oxides are also known.
References
Iodite Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA