What is hypochlorous acid? Hypochlorous acid is a free chlorine molecule with formula HOCl. The most common types of free chlorine in chlorine solutions have a pH range of mildly acidic to neutral. HOCl is a far more potent oxidant than sodium hypochlorite (or chlorine bleach).

• Is it found in nature? Hypochlorous acid is produced naturally by the white blood cells of all mammals. White blood cells use it to destroy invasive microbial pathogens.

• How does it destroy microbial pathogens? Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a neutrally charged molecule. Bacterial cell walls are negatively charged. Molecules with the same charge repel one other, just like magnets. The bacterial cell walls, for example, repel the negatively charged bleach molecule (OCl-). This is not true for neutrally charged HOCl. Bacterial cell walls are easily penetrated by HOCl. HOCl either oxidizes the cell walls, destroying the bacteria, or it penetrates through the cell walls and destroys the bacteria's essential components.

• Are there any disadvantages? Unlike many other sanitizing chemicals, hypochlorous acid has no long-term antimicrobial action. In other words, when it settles on a surface, it reacts with any microbes or organic matter present and becomes inactivated. This is both good and bad. This is good since it eliminates the need for post-rinsing because no toxic chemicals are left behind. The disadvantage is that it is produced on-site.

Usage areas: HOCl is a more powerful oxidant than chlorine and a powerful cleaning agent. It is used in the production of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and calcium hypochlorite (Ca (OCl) 2), which are used in the production of bleach, disinfectant and deodorant. The active cleanser in swimming pools is hypochlorous acid. It's also used as a wound disinfectant and a skin cleanser in cosmetics.

Health risks/effects: Hypochlorous acid is not considered dangerous because it is produced in low concentrations in the human body and has an antimicrobial impact.

What is hypochlorous acid? Hypochlorous acid is a free chlorine molecule with formula HOCl. The most common types of free chlorine in chlorine solutions have a pH range of mildly acidic to neutral. HOCl is a far more potent oxidant than sodium hypochlorite (or chlorine bleach).

• Is it found in nature? Hypochlorous acid is produced naturally by the white blood cells of all mammals. White blood cells use it to destroy invasive microbial pathogens.

• How does it destroy microbial pathogens? Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a neutrally charged molecule. Bacterial cell walls are negatively charged. Molecules with the same charge repel one other, just like magnets. The bacterial cell walls, for example, repel the negatively charged bleach molecule (OCl-). This is not true for neutrally charged HOCl. Bacterial cell walls are easily penetrated by HOCl. HOCl either oxidizes the cell walls, destroying the bacteria, or it penetrates through the cell walls and destroys the bacteria's essential components.

• Are there any disadvantages? Unlike many other sanitizing chemicals, hypochlorous acid has no long-term antimicrobial action. In other words, when it settles on a surface, it reacts with any microbes or organic matter present and becomes inactivated. This is both good and bad. This is good since it eliminates the need for post-rinsing because no toxic chemicals are left behind. The disadvantage is that it is produced on-site.

Usage areas: HOCl is a more powerful oxidant than chlorine and a powerful cleaning agent. It is used in the production of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and calcium hypochlorite (Ca (OCl) 2), which are used in the production of bleach, disinfectant and deodorant. The active cleanser in swimming pools is hypochlorous acid. It's also used as a wound disinfectant and a skin cleanser in cosmetics.

Health risks/effects: Hypochlorous acid is not considered dangerous because it is produced in low concentrations in the human body and has an antimicrobial impact.