Product Overview
Sodium Hypochlorite 12.5% is a strong oxidizing solution used across water treatment, industrial bleaching, and chemical processing operations. At 12.5% available chlorine, this is a full-strength industrial concentration — roughly ten times the strength of household bleach — built for metered dosing systems, large-volume dosing loops, and process oxidation where dilute products would require impractical volumes.
Alliance Chemical offers this product in sizes from 1-quart bottles through 330-gallon totes, covering bench-scale testing through continuous bulk feed applications. Every order ships with full hazmat documentation from our Taylor, TX facility under USDOT registration.
Why This Concentration
The 12.5% concentration is the workhorse strength for municipal and industrial water treatment. Operators running chlorination systems need a solution concentrated enough to deliver effective dosing rates without flooding their chemical feed pumps with excess water volume. At 12.5%, a relatively small metered flow treats a large throughput — a 55-gallon drum goes further and lasts longer in the feed tank than the same drum of a lower-strength product.
For facilities that do not require this level of concentration — smaller cooling towers, janitorial sanitation, or low-volume bench work — Sodium Hypochlorite 5.25% provides a more manageable strength with less aggressive handling requirements. The 5.25% solution carries the same Class 8 corrosive classification but presents lower vapor pressure at the point of use, which can simplify ventilation in enclosed spaces.
The trade-off at 12.5% is shelf life and reactivity. Sodium hypochlorite degrades faster at higher concentrations, especially under heat and UV exposure. Plan your purchasing around actual consumption rates: bulk totes offer the lowest per-gallon cost, but only make sense if your operation draws down the volume before degradation becomes significant.
Chemical Profile
Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a clear to slightly yellow watery liquid with the characteristic sharp odor of chlorine bleach. It has a molecular weight of 74.44 g/mol and is identified by CAS number 7681-52-9. In this 12.5% w/w aqueous solution, the density measures 1.19 at 20 °C — noticeably heavier than water, which matters for tank calibration and pump sizing. The solution is highly water-soluble at 29.3 g/100 g (at 0 °C) and exerts a vapor pressure of 2–2.5 kPa at 20 °C, meaning it off-gasses chlorine vapor readily in warm or poorly ventilated environments. Operators should account for this when designing storage and transfer systems.
Industrial Applications
Sodium Hypochlorite 12.5% serves a range of oxidation and bleaching functions across industries:
-
Water and Wastewater Treatment — The primary use for this concentration. Municipal plants and industrial facilities inject sodium hypochlorite into potable water lines and wastewater streams to control microbial growth, suppress algae, and neutralize odor compounds. The 12.5% strength allows precise metering through chemical feed pumps without excessive dilution volume.
-
Industrial Bleaching — Textile processors use sodium hypochlorite to bleach fabrics and natural fibers. The oxidizing action breaks chromophore bonds in organic colorants, producing a controlled whitening effect that can be tuned by adjusting contact time and concentration in the bleach bath.
-
Chemical Oxidation — In chemical manufacturing, sodium hypochlorite acts as a readily available oxidizing agent for process reactions where molecular chlorine would be impractical or pose greater handling risk. The liquid form simplifies metering and reduces the engineering controls required compared to chlorine gas.
-
pH Adjustment — Sodium hypochlorite is alkaline in solution and is employed to raise pH in process streams where simultaneous oxidation and pH correction are needed, reducing the number of separate chemical feeds in the treatment train.
Handling & Storage
Sodium Hypochlorite 12.5% carries a signal word of Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard statements reflect serious risks that govern every handling step:
- H290: May be corrosive to metals (per the product's GHS classification)
- H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
- H400: Very toxic to aquatic life (per the product's GHS classification)
- H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects (per the product's GHS classification)
Wear chemical-resistant gloves, a face shield, and splash-proof safety goggles when transferring or handling this product. A chemical apron and closed-toe footwear are baseline PPE for drum or tote operations.
Store in HDPE containers in a cool, shaded area with adequate ventilation. Sodium hypochlorite degrades under heat and UV light — elevated temperatures accelerate decomposition and chlorine off-gassing. Keep away from acids; contact with acids releases toxic chlorine gas. Avoid contact with organic materials, which can react violently with strong oxidizers. Do not store near ammonia-based products.
Contain spills immediately — this product is classified as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, and any release to storm drains or surface water is a reportable environmental event.
Hazmat & Shipping
Sodium Hypochlorite 12.5% is a regulated hazardous material for transport. Every shipment from Alliance Chemical includes proper hazmat placarding, marking, and shipping documentation.
-
UN Number: UN1791 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Packing Group: III (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Proper Shipping Name: Hypochlorite solutions (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Drums and totes ship via LTL freight carriers equipped for hazmat loads. Smaller quart and gallon quantities ship as limited-quantity or standard hazmat parcel depending on weight thresholds. All shipments originate from our Taylor, TX warehouse under USDOT #2188383.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order and is available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available for this product. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (COA) can be requested to verify the composition of your specific shipment — contact us with your lot number or order reference.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product ships in sizes from 1-quart bottles to 330-gallon totes, with 15-gallon carboys and 55-gallon drums bridging the gap — so you order the volume that matches your feed rate, not someone else's minimum. Alliance Chemical has distributed industrial chemicals since 1998, serving over 55,000 customers from our facility in Taylor, Texas. Shipping and hazmat handling guidance on this page has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
