Question:
Which among the following is the active form of chlorine responsible for disinfection during chlorination?
Which among the following is the active form of chlorine responsible for disinfection during chlorination?
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Free chlorine kills mainly via uncharged hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Hypochlorite ion
- Hydrogen chloride
- Hypochlorous acid
- Chloride ion
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recall the chemistry. When chlorine is added to water it forms hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. The disinfecting action of chlorine is predominantly due to hypochlorous acid, so option (c) is correct.
Step 2: Compare potency. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the most effective form of chlorine and is roughly 70-80 times more effective than the hypochlorite ion (OCl-).
Step 3: Reason for potency. Being a small, uncharged molecule, hypochlorous acid penetrates the negatively charged bacterial cell wall more readily than the charged hypochlorite ion.
Step 4: Why distractors are wrong. The hypochlorite ion is far weaker, while hydrogen chloride and the chloride ion have no significant disinfecting action.
Step 2: Compare potency. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the most effective form of chlorine and is roughly 70-80 times more effective than the hypochlorite ion (OCl-).
Step 3: Reason for potency. Being a small, uncharged molecule, hypochlorous acid penetrates the negatively charged bacterial cell wall more readily than the charged hypochlorite ion.
Step 4: Why distractors are wrong. The hypochlorite ion is far weaker, while hydrogen chloride and the chloride ion have no significant disinfecting action.
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