1, the appearance is different: sodium hypochlorite is a slightly yellow solution, with a smell like chlorine gas. Hypochlorous acid is found only in solution, strong solution is yellow, dilute solution is colorless, has a very pungent smell.

2, the application is different: sodium hypochlorite is mainly used in bleaching, industrial wastewater treatment, papermaking, textile, pharmaceutical, fine chemical industry, sanitation and disinfection and many other fields. For example, it is used in the bleaching of paper pulp, textiles, chemical fibers and starch; it is used as a bleaching agent for grease in the soap industry; it is used as a chlorination agent for the manufacture of cobalt and nickel; it is used as a water purifier, fungicide and disinfectant in water treatment. Hypochlorous acid is widely used in chlorine-containing disinfectant products for swimming pools.

3, the harm is not the same: sodium hypochlorite often hand contact workers, palm sweating, nail thinning, hair loss, allergenic effect, the release of chlorine may cause poisoning. Hypochlorous acid can oxidize reducing substances (such as sodium sulfite, ferrous chloride, potassium iodide, litmus, etc.), make colored cloth strips, fuchsin discolor, and can make litmus solution colorless liquid.