HYPOCHLOROUS ACID

ChloranolChloric(I) acidChlorine hydroxideChlorooxidaneHydrogen hypochloriteHypochloric acidHydroxidochlorine 7790-92-3Y Interactive image CHEBI:24757Y 22757Y 232-232-5 24341 712K4CDC10Y DTXSID3036737 InChI=1S/ClHO/c1-2/h2HYKey: QWPPOHNGKGFGJK-UHFFFAOYSA-NYInChI=1/ClHO/c1-2/h2HKey: QWPPOHNGKGFGJK-UHFFFAOYAT OCl Hypofluorous acidHypobromous acidHypoiodous acid Dichlorine monoxideChlorine monoxideHypochloriteLithium hypochloriteSodium hypochloritePotassium hypochloriteCalcium hypochloriteBarium hypochloriteSilver hypochloriteMethyl hypochloritetert-Butyl hypochloriteAcetyl hypochloriteChlorine Hypochlorous acidis aninorganic compoundwith thechemical formulaClOH, also written as HClO, HOCl, or ClHO.Its structure isH−O−Cl.‍‍‍‍‍‍​​​‍​​​​​​ It is anacidthat forms whenchlorinedissolves inwater, and itself partiallydissociates, forming ahypochloriteanion,ClO−. HClO andClO−areoxidizers, and the primarydisinfectionagents of chlorine solutions.HClO cannot be isolated from these solutions due to rapidequilibrationwith itsprecursor,chlorine. Because of its strong antimicrobial properties, the related compoundssodium hypochlorite(NaOCl) andcalcium hypochlorite(Ca(OCl)2) are ingredients in many commercialbleaches,deodorants, anddisinfectants.Thewhite blood cellsofmammals, such ashumans, also contain hypochlorous acid as a tool againstforeign bodies.In livingorganisms, HOCl is generated by the reaction ofhydrogen peroxidewithchlorideionsunder thecatalysisof thehemeenzymemyeloperoxidase(MPO). Like many other disinfectants, hypochlorous acid solutions will destroypathogens, such asCOVID-19, adsorbed on surfaces.In low concentrations, such solutions can serve to disinfectopen wounds.