Sodium hypochlorate has formed a dark brown precipitate?

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ChromeBit
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I boiled a solution of sodium hypochlorate down to make what I thought was sodium chloride and sodium chlorate - a light brown coloured powder.

However, this evening when I looked at it again it had formed a darker brown powder that was almost like soil with a few white clumps here and there. The way it clumps together almost makes it appear wet, but I'm pretty sure it isn't because when I touch it it feels dry.

Any ideas what's happened here?
 
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Are you sure there were no contaminants in the solution? In general all salts involved are just white.
 
What material did you boil it down in?
DrDu said:
You mean hypochlorite, maybe?

If he meant that, then chlorate is three oxidation states higher. Where is the oxidizing agent?
 
Kevin McHugh said:
Where is the oxidizing agent?

It is there. It is called hypochlorite.
 
ChromeBit said:
I boiled a solution of sodium hypochlorate down to make what I thought was sodium chloride and sodium chlorate - a light brown coloured powder.

What is hypochlorate? I think hypochlorite is his starting material.
 
Yes, this is most likely a typo (actually quite a common error), and the solution contains hypochlorite. And the hypochlorite is the oxidizing agent.
 
Borek said:
Yes, this is most likely a typo (actually quite a common error), and the solution contains hypochlorite. And the hypochlorite is the oxidizing agent.

OK then what is getting reduced?