Hypochlorous acid is a chlorine oxoacid with formula HOCl; a weak, unstable acid, it is the active form of chlorine in water.
How much products actually contain
2 products state the amountmedian 0.002%
- under 0.01% 2
- 0.01–0.1% 0
- 0.1–1% 0
- 1% or more 0
Amounts are mostly stated by products named after the ingredient, so they may lean towards token amounts.
Of the products containing it, 4 list it before the 1% line and 3 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
7 of 7 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first
Definition
Hypochlorous Acid is the inorganic compound that conforms to the formula
Hypochlorous acid is a chlorine oxoacid with formula HOCl; a weak, unstable acid, it is the active form of chlorine in water. It has a role as an EC 3.1.1.7 (acetylcholinesterase) inhibitor, an EC 2.5.1.18 (glutathione transferase) inhibitor and a human metabolite. It is a member of reactive oxygen species and a chlorine oxoacid. It is a conjugate acid of a hypochlorite.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 712K4CDC10 · registered name Hypochlorous acid · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name 次亜塩素酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される無機化合物である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 7790-92-3
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 232-232-5
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 239-555-0
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID3036737
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID1016737
- IUPAC
- Hypochlorous acid
- Molecular formula
- ClHO
- Molecular weight
- 52.46 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Liquid · Found only in aqueous solution, Greenish-yellow liquid, [Merck Index] Very unstable, [Hawley] Decomposes exothermically to HCl and O2, [Ullmann]
- Molecular weight
- 52.46
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 5 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Oxidizing agent2
- Deodorizer1
- Biocide1
- Pharmaceutical (EPA)1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Hypochlorous acid-the future of wound care? · 2024
- The Use of Hypochlorous Acid in the Treatment of Periorbital Necrotizing Fasciitis. · 2025
- Salvage of Infected Orthopedic Hardware With Intraoperative and Postoperative Hypochlorous Acid Instillations. · 2023
- Randomized Comparison of Hypochlorous Acid With 5% Sulfamylon Solution as Topical Therapy Following Skin Grafting · 2019
- 0.01% Hypochlorous Acid as an Alternative Skin Antiseptic: An In Vitro Comparison · 2018
Linked databases 18
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese