Abstract: Provided are sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate crystals capable of long-term storage that have improved stability of sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate, which is effective as an oxidizing 5 agent or bactericide, in the vicinity of normal temperatures, and a method for producing the same. The sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate crystals are such that peaks appear at the locations of the angles of diffraction described in Table 1 of claim 1 over a range of 10°?2? (angle of diffraction)?65° as measured by powder X-ray diffraction using a Cuk? radiation source.

Abstract: Provided are sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate crystals capable of long-term storage that have improved stability of sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate, which is effective as an oxidizing agent or bactericide, in the vicinity of normal temperatures, and a method for producing the same. The sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate crystals are such that peaks appear at the locations of the angles of diffraction described in Table 1 of claim 1 over a range of 10°?2? (angle of diffraction)?65° as measured by powder X-ray diffraction using a CuK? radiation source.

Abstract: A novel, multi-element metal chalcogenide is disclosed which has the following general formula (I):X.sub.(1-a)x X'.sub.ax Y.sub.y Z.sub.z (I)wherein X stands for at least one element selected from Bi, Sb and As, X.sup.1 stands for at least one element selected from Pb, Sn and Ge, Y stands for at least one element selected from Ti, V, Nb and Ta, Z stands for at least one element selected from S, Se and Te, a is a number of 0-1, x is a number of 0.8-1.2, y is a number of 0.8-1.2 or 1.6-2.4 and z is a number of 2.4-3.6 when y is 0.8-1.2 or a numeral of 4.0-6.0 when y is 1.6-2.4.