Which acid is HOCl?

Which acid is HOCl?

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

Answer: (B)

HOCl stands for hypochlorous acid. It forms when chlorine dissolves in water and exists as a weak acid that can partly dissociate to H+ and OCl−. In water treatment, HOCl is the active, more effective disinfectant form, especially at lower pH, with the hypochlorite form (OCl−) dominating as pH rises. The other acids are hydrochloric acid (HCl), perchloric acid (HClO4), and chlorous acid (HClO2), which are different chlorine oxyacids. So HOCl is hypochlorous acid.

HOCl stands for hypochlorous acid. It forms when chlorine dissolves in water and exists as a weak acid that can partly dissociate to H+ and OCl−. In water treatment, HOCl is the active, more effective disinfectant form, especially at lower pH, with the hypochlorite form (OCl−) dominating as pH rises. The other acids are hydrochloric acid (HCl), perchloric acid (HClO4), and chlorous acid (HClO2), which are different chlorine oxyacids. So HOCl is hypochlorous acid.