hypochlorous acid /-klôr″əs/ [Gk, hypo + chloros, green; L, acidus, sour] , a compound, HOC1, that is stable only in the form of a dilute aqueous solution formed by dissolving chlorine gas in water to yield a greenish-yellow solution. An unstable compound that decomposes to hydrochloric acid and oxygen, it is used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.
