Species dominant bleaching

The active ingredients in hypochlorite bleaches vary with pH. At pH < 2, CI2 is the main component in solution at pH 4 to 6, HOCl is the dominant species at pH > 9, OCl" is the only component present. It is the hypochlorite ion in basic solution that is the active ingredient in household bleach, which is typically about 5 to 6 percent NaOCl. The OCl" ion oxidizes chromophores in colored materials, and is itself reduced to chloride and hydroxide ions. 

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