What is the chemical name for ClO-?

The chemical name for ClO- is indeed hypochlorite. In the context of chemical nomenclature, "hypochlorite" refers specifically to the anion formed when chlorine combines with oxygen and has a charge of -1. The name "hypo" is a prefix used in this naming convention to indicate that it is the least oxidized form of chlorine in a series of oxyanions.

Chlorine can form several other oxyanions with different oxidation states:

• Chlorite (ClO2-) has one additional oxygen atom compared to hypochlorite and has a higher oxidation state.

• Chlorate (ClO3-) features yet another oxygen, further increasing the oxidation state.

• Perchlorate (ClO4-) is the highest oxidation state of chlorine in this series and contains four oxygen atoms.

Thus, hypochlorite is explicitly defined by its singular presence of oxygen in relation to chlorine, which explains its designation.