Chlorine and water make two acids: hydrochloric (HCl) and _______________ (HOCl).

Chlorine and water make two acids: hydrochloric (HCl) and _______________ (HOCl).

• A. Hypochlorous
• B. Hydrochloric
• C. Perchloric
• D. Chlorous

Answer: (A)

Chlorine dissolved in water undergoes hydrolysis, forming two acids: hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. The reaction can be written as Cl2 + H2O → HCl + HOCl, where HOCl is hypochlorous acid. This acid is the one represented by HOCl, produced alongside hydrochloric acid when chlorine reacts with water. The other options refer to different chlorine-oxygen acids (hydrochloric acid is HCl, perchloric is HClO4, chlorous is HClO2), so they are not HOCl.

Chlorine dissolved in water undergoes hydrolysis, forming two acids: hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. The reaction can be written as Cl2 + H2O → HCl + HOCl, where HOCl is hypochlorous acid. This acid is the one represented by HOCl, produced alongside hydrochloric acid when chlorine reacts with water. The other options refer to different chlorine-oxygen acids (hydrochloric acid is HCl, perchloric is HClO4, chlorous is HClO2), so they are not HOCl.