Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Silver hypochlorite

Silver hypochlorite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula AgOCl. It is an ionic compound of silver and the polyatomic ion hypochlorite. The compound is very unstable and rapidly decomposes. It is the silver(I) salt of hypochlorous acid. The salt consists of silver(I) cations and hypochlorite anions.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
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Silver hypochlorite
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Names
IUPAC name
Silver(I) hypochlorite
Other names
Argentous hypochlorite
Silver hypochlorite
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/Ag.ClO/c;1-2/q+1;-1
    Key: USOFCTBGGPGUEF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [O-]Cl.[Ag+]
Properties
AgOCl
Molar mass 159.32 g·mol−1
very soluble
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Silver hypochlorite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula AgOCl (also written as AgClO). It is an ionic compound of silver and the polyatomic ion hypochlorite.12 The compound is very unstable and rapidly decomposes.3 It is the silver(I) salt of hypochlorous acid. The salt consists of silver(I) cations (Ag+) and hypochlorite anions (−OCl).

Properties

Silver hypochlorite is very unstable, and its solution will soon disproportionate into silver chlorate and silver chloride:

3 AgOCl → AgClO3 + 2 AgCl

If the AgOCl solution is heated to 60 °C, it will rapidly disproportionate. Adding silver oxide stabilizes the solution.3

Synthesis

Silver hypochlorite can be prepared by bubbling chlorine through an aqueous suspension of silver oxide:4

2 Cl2 + Ag2O + H2O → 2 AgCl + 2 HOCl
2 HOCl + Ag2O → H2O + 2 AgOCl

It can also be prepared by the reaction of hypochlorous acid with silver nitrate, producing silver hypochlorite and nitric acid.5

HOCl + AgNO3 → AgOCl + HNO3
References

References

  1. Comey, Arthur Messinger (1896). A Dictionary of Chemical Solubilities; Inorganic. Macmillan and Company. p. 180. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  2. "silver hypochlorite". chemsrc.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  3. Massey, A. G.; Thompson, N. R.; Johnson, B. F. G. (6 June 2016). The Chemistry of Copper, Silver and Gold: Pergamon International Library of Science, Technology, Engineering and Social Studies. Elsevier. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-4831-8169-1. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. Stas, J. A. (1867). "On the Action of Chlorine on Carbonate of Silver". The Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science: A Journal of Practical Chemistry in All Its Applications to Pharmacy, Arts, and Manufacturers. American Reprint: 173. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. "Silver Hypochlorite: Formula, Solubility & Molar Mass". study.com. Retrieved 10 March 2023.