Hypochlorous acid (HOCI) was first discovered in 1834
by French chemist Antoine Jérôme Balard. He found
that mixing chlorine gas with a dilute solution of
mercury(II) oxide produced HOCI - and, most
importantly, that it was a safe and effective
disinfectant.
Later in the 19th century, Michael Faraday developed
the first technique to generate HOCI from saltwater.
This method, called electrochemical activation, is still
the foundation of modern HOCI production.
For many years, HOCI's incredible safety and effectiveness were limited by its instability and high production costs. Only recently have scientists perfected a way to create stable, cost-effective HOCI - making it widely accessible for commercial use, including skin-safe applications.
