Sodium hypochlorite

Athanor · official

ClNaO · 74.44 g/mol

Also called bleach, chlorine bleach, E220

Inorganic

Open in Athanor

Drawn from its SMILES with RDKit

DangerCauses severe skin burns and eye damage · Causes serious eye damage · Very toxic to aquatic life · Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Names and identifiers

IUPAC name: sodium hypochlorite
Synonyms: bleach, chlorine bleach, E220
+ 38 more
Antiformin, Clorox, Sodium oxychloride, Hypochlorous acid, sodium salt, Household bleach, Chlorox, Javex, Javelle water, Hypochlorite sodium, Youxiaolin, Chloros, Cloralex, Cloropool, Dispatch, Hyclorite, Klorocin, Parozone, Surchlor, Deosan, Hypure, Milton, Hospital Milton, Milton Crystals, Neo-cleaner, Neoseptal CL, Hypure N, Purin B, B-K liquid, Hyposan and Voxsan, Clorox liquid bleach, Sunnysol 150, Dakins quarter, Dakins half, Di-Dak-Sol, Texant, Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), Deosan Green Label Steriliser
Molecular formula: ClNaO
Empirical formula: ClNaO
Molecular weight: 74.44 g/mol
Exact mass: 73.95354
CAS number: 7681-52-9
PubChem CID: 23665760
Canonical SMILES: [O-]Cl.[Na+]
Isomeric SMILES: [O-]Cl.[Na+]
InChI: InChI=1S/ClO.Na/c1-2;/q-1;+1
InChIKey: SUKJFIGYRHOWBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Molfile

Names, InChI and the identifiers from PubChem, retrieved 2026-10-14.

Physical properties

TemperaturePressureDensity

Appearance: Greenish yellow liquid[4]
5 values
From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.
Value As written Source
– Sodium hypochlorite appears as colorless or slightly yellow watery liquid with an odor of household bleach. Mixes with water. (USCG, 1999) [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
– Large Crystals; Other Solid; Liquid [2] EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
– CLEAR SLIGHTLY YELLOW SOLUTION WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR. [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
– CLEAR SLIGHTLY YELLOW SOLUTION WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR. [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown Greenish yellow liquid [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem Spills: Sodium Hypochlorite (Draft) p.3 (1985)
Odor: Disagreeable, sweetish odor[4]
Melting point: -5 °C[3]
3 values
Sources disagree; from ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs), the most authoritative.
Value As written Source
−5 °Cshown -5 °C [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
−30 to −20 °C -30 - -20 °C [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
18 °C 18 °C [5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Boiling point: Boiling point: 111 °C in solution[4]
Density: 1.093 for 5% solution (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water[1]
4 values
2 of 3 sources agree on it (most common value).
Value As written Source
–shown 1.093 for 5% solution (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
– 1.21 (14% aqueous solution, 20 °C) [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem Spills: Sodium Hypochlorite (Draft) p.1 (1985)
– Relative density (water = 1): 1.1 (5.5% aqueous solution) [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
– Relative density (water = 1): 1.21 (14% aqueous solution) [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
2 more values were reported but failed the checks (unreadable or out of range), so they are not shown.
Solubility in water: Solubility in water, g/l at 20 °C: 293 (good)[3]
Vapor pressure: Reported, but no value passed the checks.
The value and why
Vapor pressure, kPa at 20 °C: 2 - 2.5 (could not be read; source [3])

Value	As written	Source
–	Sodium hypochlorite appears as colorless or slightly yellow watery liquid with an odor of household bleach. Mixes with water. (USCG, 1999)	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
–	Large Crystals; Other Solid; Liquid	[2] EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
–	CLEAR SLIGHTLY YELLOW SOLUTION WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR.	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–	CLEAR SLIGHTLY YELLOW SOLUTION WITH CHARACTERISTIC ODOUR.	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown	Greenish yellow liquid	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem Spills: Sodium Hypochlorite (Draft) p.3 (1985)

Value	As written	Source
−5 °Cshown	-5 °C	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
−30 to −20 °C	-30 - -20 °C	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
18 °C	18 °C	[5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Value	As written	Source
–shown	1.093 for 5% solution (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
–	1.21 (14% aqueous solution, 20 °C)	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem Spills: Sodium Hypochlorite (Draft) p.1 (1985)
–	Relative density (water = 1): 1.1 (5.5% aqueous solution)	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–	Relative density (water = 1): 1.21 (14% aqueous solution)	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Each value as its source reports it, with the source's number after it (listed under References). Where several sources report a property, the row shows the value most of them agree on, the rule the app uses; open the values to see every one.

Calculated

Heavy atoms: 3
Rings: 0
Aromatic rings: 0
Fraction sp³ carbons (Fsp3): 0
H-bond donors: 0
H-bond acceptors: 1
Rotatable bonds: 0
TPSA (Å²): 23.1
Formal charge: 0
Complexity: 4 PubChem
Stereocenters: None
Double-bond geometry: None specified
Point group: C∞v of one 3D conformer with its hydrogens, by Athanor’s engine (as in the app)

Elemental analysis

Cl47.62%
Na30.88%
O21.49%

Isotope pattern

Each peak is a nominal mass with its abundance-weighted exact mass, as a percentage of the tallest, from IUPAC natural isotope abundances.

Computed from the structure with RDKit 2026.09 when this page was built, beside PubChem's own computed values from its record; where the two differ, both are shown.

Predicted

log P: -3.5 Crippen (Wildman and Crippen 1999)
log S (water solubility): 1.9 ESOL (Delaney 2004), log mol/L
Synthetic accessibility: 5.59 SA score, 1 easy to 10 hard (Ertl and Schuffenhauer 2009)

Drug-likeness: Lipinski’s rule of five

Molecular weight ≤ 500: 74.44
log P ≤ 5 (Crippen): -3.5
H-bond donors ≤ 5: 0
H-bond acceptors ≤ 10: 1

Passes all four rules.

Predictions, not measurements; each names its method. A measured log P, where a source reports one, is under Physical properties.

Safety

Danger

Harmonized EU classification (CLP Annex VI). Source [6].

Corrosive
Environmental hazard

H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H318Causes serious eye damage
H400Very toxic to aquatic life
H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Precautionary statements: P260, P264, P264+P265, P273, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P363, P391, P405, P501

View all classifications (2)

[6] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · DangerH314, H318, H400, H410
[7] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · 3,101 reports · DangerH290, H314, H315, H318, H335, H400, H410, H411

First aid

Inhalation: Sips of milk or other demulcent. Eyes: Flush with plenty of water for 15 minutes. Skin: Wash contaminated area with soap and water. (USCG, 1999)[1]
General First Aid: · Call 911 or emergency medical service. · Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, take precautions to protect themselves and avoid contamination. · Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely. · Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. · If victim is not breathing: -- DO NOT perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the victim may have ingested or inhaled the substance. -- If equipped and pulse detected, wash face and mouth, then give artificial respiration using a proper respiratory medical device (bag-valve mask, pocket mask equipped…[8]
Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.[3]
First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer for medical attention .[3]

Storage

Separated from acids. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Keep in the dark. Well closed. Store only in original container.[3]
Separated from combustible substances, reducing agents, acids and food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Keep in the dark. Well closed. Store only in original container.[3]
Store at a temp not exceeding 20 °C away from acids in well-fitted air-tight bottles, closed with a glass stopper or suitable plastic cap. Protect from light. (strong sodium hypochlorite soln)[4]
Vent caps should be checked with full personal protection, and material should be stored at 15-18 °C and out of direct sunlight. ...[4]

Incompatibilities

Chlorination of ethyleneimine with sodium hypochlorite gives the explosive compound 1-chloroethyleneimine.[4]
Primary amines and calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite react to form normal chloroamines, which are explosive.[4]
Hypochlorites react with urea to form nitrogen trichloride which explodes spontaneously in air. (hypochlorites)[4]
Contact in the drains of an effluent containing the hypochlorite with one containing ammonium salts & acid led to formation of nitrogen trichloride which decomp explosively. ... Cleaning a brewery tank with an acidified ammonium sulfate cleaning preparation, then sodium hypochlorite soln without intermediate rinsing, led to nitrogen trichloride formation & a violent explosion.[4]

Safety data sheets on the supplier’s page: Thermo Fisher Scientific, RR Scientific, Sinfoo Biotech.

Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet before working with it.

Literature

Reading PubChem, OpenAlex and GSRS…

Bioactivity

Reading ChEMBL…

References

[1]CAMEO Chemicals · Public domain (NOAA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[2]EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) · Public domain (US EPA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[3]ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) · CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[4]Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · Public domain (US NLM) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[5]PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy · Public domain (US DOE) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[6]Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · EU reuse policy, CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[7]European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · ECHA legal notice: reuse with acknowledgement · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[8]Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) · Public domain (US DOT) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
·Calculated values: computed by Athanor with RDKit 2026.09 from the structure.
·Literature on PubChem

Data last updated 2026-10-14.