Question: what is the difference between sodium hypochlorite and sodium chlorite?
Answer: In a word, no. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and sodium chlorite (NaClO2) are both oxidizers, but their chemistries are quite different. Sodium hypochlorite can act as a disinfectant and a bleaching agent. ... Hypochlorite is a ClO- ion whereas chlorite is a ClO2- ion.