Question

The chemical formula of hypochlorite ion is:
A. $C{l_2}{O^ - }$
B. $Cl{O^ - }$
C. $Cl{O^{2 - }}$
D. $C{l_2}{O^{2 - }}$

Answer 1

Hypochlorite is chemically unstable ion in free form. So hypochlorite is mostly found as salt or metal like sodium hypochlorite, etc. Hypochlorite ion is an ion made up of chlorine and oxygen.

Complete Step by step answer: Hypochlorite ion is an ion made up of chlorine and oxygen. The chemical formula of hypochlorite ion is $Cl{O^ - }$. Since the hypochlorite ion possesses negative charge on it, so it is an anion. Actually hypochlorite ion is very unstable in nature and is conjugate base of hypochlorous acid i.e. $HOCl$. So the hypochlorite ion is generally found in the form of salts of metal for example; sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, etc.
The hypochlorite ion, an oxyacid of chlorine, consists of chlorine which is monovalent by nature. Due to this it acts as an oxidising agent. It is soluble in water. Since the hypochlorite ion is made up of one chlorine and one oxygen atom so, the molecular weight of the hypochlorite ion is $51.45{\rm{ }}g/mol$ Chemical structure of hypochlorite ion is -($Cl{O^ - }$). Due to the negative charge on it, the hypochlorite ion reacts with the cations i.e. the ions having the positive charge on it. Due to their tendency to lose electrons they generally react with the electron rich aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated them.. Also because of this property, the hypochlorite ion is used as reagent in Jacobsen epoxidation reaction to convert $Mn{\rm{ }}\left( {III} \right)$ into $Mn{\rm{ }}\left( V \right)$.

Hence, option (B) $Cl{O^ - }$, is the correct option.

Note: Hypochlorite ion is an anion made up of chlorine and oxygen atoms. Due to its highly unstable nature it is found in the form of salts of metal like sodium, lithium, etc.Also hypochlorite ion is a strong oxidising agent so it is used in oxidation of primary alcohols to produce carboxylic acid