sodium hypochlorite

American

noun

Chemistry.

a pale-green, crystalline compound, NaOCl, unstable in air, soluble in cold water, decomposes in hot water: used as a bleaching agent for paper and textiles, in water purification, in household use, and as a fungicide.

sodium hypochlorite Scientific

An unstable salt that is usually stored in solution and used as a fungicide and an oxidizing bleach. Chemical formula: NaOCl·5H ₂ O.

Etymology

Origin of sodium hypochlorite

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The new study examined spore response of three different strains of C. diff to three clinical in-use concentrations of sodium hypochlorite.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2023

Assuming your bleach is 8.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, you’ll need 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per quart of warm water.

From Washington Post • Mar. 18, 2022

The sodium hypochlorite - or bleach - found in swimming pools can dry it out more, leading to damage.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2021

Chloramine, NH2Cl, results from the reaction of sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl, with ammonia in basic solution.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

These solutions contain mixtures of sodium hypochlorite and sodium chloride together with some free alkali.

From Chlorination of Water by Race, Joseph

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023