Knowra Hypochlorous acid Hypochlorous acid Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a weak, unstable acid formed when chlorine dissolves in water. It is a reactive disinfectant and an antimicrobial molecule produced by immune cells.
Chlorine hydrolysis : The reaction of dissolved chlorine with water to form hypochlorous acid and hydrochloric acid. This reaction produces hypochlorous acid when chlorine enters water.
Chlorine : A reactive halogen element with symbol Cl and atomic number 17. Molecular chlorine supplies the chlorine that hydrolysis converts into hypochlorous acid.
Water chlorination : The addition of chlorine or chlorine compounds to water to inactivate pathogens. Chlorination creates hypochlorous acid, a principal active disinfectant in treated water.
Chlorine dioxide : A reactive chlorine oxide, ClO₂, used as a disinfectant and bleaching agent. It disinfects through different chemistry and is not the same species as HClO.
Hypochlorite : The ion ClO⁻ and its salts, including sodium hypochlorite, used in bleaching and disinfection. Hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite interconvert with pH, but the neutral acid is generally more antimicrobial.
Hydrochloric acid : A strong acid consisting of hydrogen chloride dissolved in water. It forms alongside hypochlorous acid when chlorine reacts with water.
Sodium hypochlorite : The sodium salt of hypochlorous acid, commonly used in bleach and cleaning solutions. In water, sodium hypochlorite establishes an equilibrium that includes hypochlorous acid.
Ozone : A triatomic form of oxygen, O₃, used as a strong oxidant and water disinfectant. Ozone offers a chlorine-free oxidation route for applications that use hypochlorous acid.
Oxidation : A chemical process involving electron loss or an increase in oxidation state. Hypochlorous acid damages microbial molecules largely through oxidative reactions.
Acid dissociation constant : A quantitative measure of how readily an acid donates a proton in solution. The dissociation constant describes the pH-dependent balance between HClO and ClO⁻.
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