Sodium hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite (pronunciation: soh-dee-uhm hy-poh-klor-ite) is a chemical compound with the formula NaOCl. It is composed of sodium (Na), oxygen (O), and chlorine (Cl). Sodium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent and is commonly used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent.

Etymology

The term "sodium hypochlorite" is derived from the names of its constituent elements. "Sodium" comes from the English word "soda", which in turn comes from the Medieval Latin "soda". "Hypochlorite" is derived from the Greek words "hypo-", meaning "under", and "chloros", meaning "greenish-yellow". This refers to the fact that hypochlorite is a lower oxidation state of chlorine.

Uses

Sodium hypochlorite is widely used in many applications. Its primary use is as a disinfectant in water treatment to purify drinking water and in swimming pools. It is also used in bleaching processes, for example in paper and pulp industries and in laundry applications. In medicine, it is used in dialysis and as a topical antiseptic.

Related Terms

Chlorine: A chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17. It is a halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17.
Disinfectant: Substances that are applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects.
Oxidizing agent: A substance that has the ability to oxidize other substances — in other words, to accept their electrons.
Bleaching agent: A substance that lightens or whitens a substrate through chemical reaction.