Hypochlorous acid

Hypochlorous acid

Pale yellow, chlorkalkartig smelling substance which is stable only in aqueous solution.

7.54

Soluble in water

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Hypochlorous acid ( hypochlorous acid outdated ) HClO is a colorless (concentrated solutions are by Dichloroxid pale yellow colored), chlorkalkartig smelling, only weakly dissociating acid. It has a bleaching and oxidizing.

Production and representation

It is prepared by introducing chlorine into water and simultaneous elimination of the hydrochloric acid formed by mercury.

Also, chloride-free hypochlorous acid can be prepared by reaction of Dichloroxid with water.

Properties

The acid is unstable and can be produced only in aqueous solution. Even in low concentrations, it tends to disproportionate to chloric acid and hydrochloric acid.

The salts and esters of hypochlorous acid hot hypochlorites.

Use

Disinfection of swimming-pool water, for example in the Langzeitchlorung with Trichlorisocyanursäuretabletten ( TCCS ), which react slowly with the pool water to cyanuric acid and hypochlorous acid. In rare instances, hypochlorous acid is also used for drinking water treatment.

Safety

Hypochlorous acid is indeed only a weak acid; they can, however, cause by their strong oxidation effect nevertheless skin irritation and even burns. When they decay caused highly corrosive substances such as chlorine and hydrochloric acid, which quickly kill organic tissue completely or even completely decompose. It should be noted that hypochlorous acid must never be used for the oxidation of alcohols, since they can form with them by esterification high explosive Alkylhypochlorite. With ammonia, the explosive nitrogen trichloride forms.