What Is a Pool Oxidizer?

Inorganic Oxidizers

• Inorganic pool oxidizers don't contain carbon atoms. Examples include lithium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite, all of which release hypochlorite ions when they dissolve in water. In combination with hydrogen ions donated by water molecules, the hypochlorite ions become hypochlorous acid, the oxidizing agent responsible for killing microbes in your pool water and "burning up" organic matter, although it is consumed in the process. Adding bromine compounds together with an oxidizer forms hypobromous acid, which has a similar effect. Potassium peroxymonosulfate is another pool oxidizer sold under the trade name Oxone.

Organic Oxidizers

• Other oxidizing agents used in pools are the chlorinated isocyanurates, such as trichloroisocyanuric acid, potassium dichloroisocyanurate and sodium dichlorocyanurate. All of these compounds act as sources of hypochlorous acid in the pool and are therefore sometimes used to disinfect pool water in place of the inorganic compounds. Their primary advantage is that they last longer, so they ensure a more stable level of disinfectant in the water over time.

Combinations

• The organic chlorinating agents and inorganic chlorinating agents aren't compatible and shouldn't be mixed. In fact, it's always a bad idea to mix your pool chemicals unless explicitly instructed to do so by the guidelines for your product. Combining strong oxidizing agents with organic compounds can cause explosive reactions. It's also very important to note that bromine should never be used to sanitize a pool in conjunction with cyanuric acid or similar organic chlorinating agents.

Shock Oxidation

• An accumulation of chloramines--undesirable byproducts of reactions between hypochlorous acid and organic matter--can eventually necessitate shock oxidation (more often called shock chlorination or superchlorination). In this procedure, the concentration of oxidizers in the pool water is temporarily increased to "burn off" all the chloramines, although these concentrations must be allowed to return to normal levels before swimmers can re-enter. Compounds such as potassium peroxymonosulfate can also be used to "shock" the pool.