Chlorine monoxide

This article is about the compound ClO. For the oxoanion with the formula ClO⁻, see hypochlorite. For the molecule Cl₂O, see Dichlorine monoxide.

Chlorine monoxide
Preferred IUPAC name Chlorine monoxide
Systematic name Chlorooxidanyl
Identifiers
Abbreviations	ClO(.)
CAS number	12301-79-0
PubChem	166686 Y
ChemSpider	145843 Y
MeSH	Chlorosyl
ChEBI	CHEBI:29314
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [O]Cl
InChI InChI=1S/ClO/c1-2 Key: NHYCGSASNAIGLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Properties
Molecular formula	ClO
Molar mass	51.45 g mol−1
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation ΔfHo298	101.8 kJ/mol[1]
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Chlorine monoxide is a chemical radical with the formula ClO. It plays an important role in the process of ozone depletion. In the stratosphere, chlorine atoms react with ozone molecules to form chlorine monoxide and oxygen.

Cl· + O₃ → ClO· + O₂

This reaction causes the depletion of the ozone layer.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Egon Wiberg; Nils Wiberg; Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001). Inorganic chemistry. Academic Press. p. 462. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.