hypochlorite
nounEtymology From hypo- + chlorite.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences any salt of hypochlorous acid; used as a household bleach.
- Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid with a pH slightly below neutral. It should not be confused with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), the main active ingredient in household bleach products, even though they both involve chlorine.2025 May 1, Jen Schwartz, “The magic molecule”, in Scientific American, volume 332, number 5, pages 54-55:
- Derived terms
- calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite
- Related terms
- hypofluorite