Chemical Properties |
Sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl, is an air-unstable,pale green crystalline solid that is soluble in cold water, decomposes in hot water, and has a sweet aroma. It generally is available in one of two strengths. The household liquid bleach contains about 5.25 wt% NaCIO. The commercial product(sometimes called 15% bleach) contains 150g/L available chlorine. This is equivalent to about 13 wt% sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite is used as a bleaching agent for paper pulp and textiles, as an oxidizing reagent, as a disinfectant, as a chemical intermediate,and in medicines.
The hypochlorite ion (OCI-) is similar to wet chlorine gas in its effects on materials. Not many metals exhibit good resistance even at low temperatures and concentrations. Because hypochlorite solutions are unstable at neutral and lower pHs,they normally contain excess alkali,which modifies the aggressiveness somewhat. |
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Chemical Properties |
Anhydrous sodium hypochlorite explodes; the pentahydrate is a pale-green
870 SODIUM HYPOCHLORITEcrystalline solid; orthorhombic structure; density 1.6 g/cm3; melts at 18°C;
decomposed by CO2 in the air; soluble in water, 29.3 g/100 mL at 0°C; the
aqueous solution is highly stable. |
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Uses |
Sodium hypochlorite is marketed only as an aqueous solution because
the anhydrous solid is highly unstable and can explode. The solid pentahydrate also is unstable in air, decomposed by reaction with carbon dioxide from
air. Aqueous solutions are very stable. They are used for bleaching textiles
and paper pulp; in cleaning solutions; in water purification; as a disinfectant
for swimming pools; and as a germicide and topical antiinfective. The
hypochlorite also is used as an oxidizing agent in many preparative reactions.
It is an ingredient of commercial bleaching products such as Clorox and
Dazzle. |
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Preparation |
Sodium hypochlorite solution is obtained by passing chlorine into
sodium hydroxide solution. The pentahydrate is obtained by crystallization. |
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Definition |
ChEBI: An inorganic sodium salt in which hypochlorite is the counterion. |
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Uses |
Aq solution as bleach, disinfectant; chlorination of swimming pools; sanitation of drinking water. |
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General Description |
Green to yellow watery liquid with an odor of bleaching liquid odor. Sinks and mixes with water. |
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Air & Water Reactions |
Water soluble. Decomposes into chlorine and oxygen gases in hot water. |
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Reactivity Profile |
Salts of hypochlorous acid, HClO. Generally toxic, irritants and powerful oxidizers, particularly in the presence of water at higher temperature as they decompose to release oxygen and chlorine gases. On contact with urea they form the highly explosive NCl3 . When heated or on contact with acids, they produce highly toxic fumes of chlorine gas [Sax, 9th ed., 1996, p. 1905]. Can react with sulfuric acid to produce heat and chlorine gas. |
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Health Hazard |
Liquid can be irritating to skin and eyes if contact is maintained. |
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Fire Hazard |
Behavior in Fire: May decompose, generating irritating chlorine gas. |
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