NaOH (aq) + Cl2 (g) → NaCl (aq) + HOCl (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

Cl0 - 1 e- → ClI (oxidation)

Cl0 + e- → Cl-I (reduction)

Cl2 is both an oxidizing and a reducing agent (disproportionation (dismutation)).

Reactants:

  • NaOH
    • Names: Sodium hydroxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Caustic soda source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Lye source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: White, waxy, opaque crystals source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; White hygroscopic solid in various forms source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to white, odorless solid (flakes, beads, granular form). source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • Cl2
    • Names: Chlorine source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Molecular chlorine source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Greenish-yellow compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • NaCl – Sodium chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: {{unbulleted list source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Salt source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Table salt source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless cubic crystals source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • HOCl – Hypochlorous acid, chloric(I) acid, chloranol, hydroxidochlorine source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Hypochlorous acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Hydrogen hypochlorite source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Chlorine hydroxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: Colorless aqueous solution source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27