Sodium hypochlorite is commonly used at a concentration of what percentage in household bleach?

Sodium hypochlorite is commonly used at a concentration of what percentage in household bleach?

• A. 5.25%
• B. 0.5%
• C. 10%
• D. 1%

Answer: (A)

Disinfection effectiveness depends on the amount of active chlorine in the solution, provided by sodium hypochlorite. Household bleach designed for consumer use typically contains about 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. This concentration is strong enough to reliably disinfect common pathogens when used according to the label, yet safe and practical for household handling. Concentrations around 0.5% or 1% are too dilute for effective disinfection, while a much higher concentration like 10% would be overly hazardous for everyday use and not intended for household cleaning. So, 5.25% is the standard, commonly marketed concentration for household bleach.

Disinfection effectiveness depends on the amount of active chlorine in the solution, provided by sodium hypochlorite. Household bleach designed for consumer use typically contains about 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. This concentration is strong enough to reliably disinfect common pathogens when used according to the label, yet safe and practical for household handling. Concentrations around 0.5% or 1% are too dilute for effective disinfection, while a much higher concentration like 10% would be overly hazardous for everyday use and not intended for household cleaning. So, 5.25% is the standard, commonly marketed concentration for household bleach.