Silver hypochlorite

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.^[1][2] 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).

Silver hypochlorite

Names
IUPAC name Silver(I) hypochlorite
Other names Argentous hypochlorite Silver hypochlorite
Identifiers
CAS Number	475461-52-0 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
PubChem CID	161181821
InChI InChI=1S/Ag.ClO/c;1-2/q+1;-1 Key: USOFCTBGGPGUEF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [O-]Cl.[Ag+]
Properties
Chemical formula	AgOCl
Molar mass	159.32 g·mol−1
Solubility in water	very soluble
Related compounds
Other anions	Silver chloride Silver chlorite Silver chlorate Silver perchlorate
Other cations	Sodium hypochlorite Potassium hypochlorite Calcium hypochlorite Barium hypochlorite Copper hypochlorite
Related compounds	Hypochlorous acid Silver hypobromite Silver hypoiodite Methyl hypochlorite
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Synthesis

• Bubbling chlorine through an aqueous suspension of silver oxide.^[4]

2 Cl₂ + Ag₂O + H₂O → 2 AgCl + 2 HOCl

2 HOCl + Ag₂O → H₂O + 2 AgOCl

• Reaction of hypochlorous acid with silver nitrate produces silver hypochlorite and nitric acid.^[5]

HOCl + AgNO₃ → AgOCl + HNO₃

Chemical 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][dubious – discuss]}