Its aqueous solutions are colorless liquids (light yellow when impure) that have a strong chlorine smell.

[4] Potassium hypochlorite was first produced in 1789 by Claude Louis Berthollet in his laboratory located in Javel in Paris, France, by passing chlorine gas through a solution of potash lye.

[5] Inhalation of a mist of KOCl can cause bronchus and lung irritation, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases pulmonary edema.

[6] However, it can react explosively with numerous chemicals, including urea, ammonium salts, methanol, acetylene, and many organic compounds.

[1] Potassium hypochlorite forms highly explosive NCl3 upon contact with urea or ammonia.