General Properties
Molar Mass: 74.4 grams per mol
Melting Point: 18 degrees C (melts into a pentahydrate)
Boiling Point: 101 degrees C
Density (in natural state): 1.07-1.14 g/cm3
Color: Yellow or yellow-green
Reaction Tendencies:
Generally speaking, Sodium Hypochlorite is safe when under 10%, but can still be corrosive sometimes, especially when coming into contact with heavy metals such as magnesium, iron, zinc, and other trace metals which are able to quickly decompose sodium hypochlorite and cause it to become corrosive. This can also happen if the solution is heated or exposed for a long time. When decomposed, NaOCl can produce a number of different products depending on the conditions, some of these being hypochlorous acid and hydrochloric acid as well as sodium chloride, oxygen, and sodium chlorate. Also, acids, ammonia solutions are reactive with sodium hypochlorite, and often produce poisonous chloramines or chlorine gas if contact is made.
Other Info:
Sodium hypochlorite must be made (it doesn't exist naturally on earth). A popular way of making sodium hypochlorite is by adding chlorine gas to cold sodium hydroxide. The solution must be kept under 40 degrees C in order to prevent sodium chlorate from forming. Sodium chloride (table salt) is also included in the sodium hypochlorite solution due to products of the reaction: 2NaOH (s) + Cl2 (g) --> NaCl (aq) + NaOCl (aq) + H2O (l).