What is the formal oxidation state of the attacking electrophilic halogen atom during the addition o — Reaction Mechanism Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Hypochlorous acid ($HOCl$) contains an oxygen atom which is more electronegative than the chlorine atom. Because the electron pair of the $O-Cl$ bond is drawn closer to oxygen, the bond cleaves heterolytically to yield $OH^-$ and $Cl^+$. The formal oxidation state of the resulting electrophilic chlorine species ($Cl^+$) is $+1$.