HYPOCHLOROUS ACID

n. Hip-o-klor'u3S. From mrd, under, and chlorous (q. v.). Lat., acidwn hypochlorosum. Fr., acide hypochloreux. Ger.. unterchlorige Saury, Unterchlorigsdure. An unstable compound, HC1O. It is known only in aqueous solution. It readily parts with its oxygen, and so acts as an oxidizing and bleaching agent. By replacement of its hydrogen by a metal, it forms a series of salts called hypochlorites. [B, 3.] [s. 413]