Question

What is bleaching? Write the Chemical name and two main uses of bleaching powder.

Answer 1

Hint: We know that bleaching is a process of whitening fabrics by removal of natural color which is usually carried out by means of chemicals which are selected according to the chemical composition of the fabric. This process is usually accomplished by the oxidation and reduction methods.

Complete step-by-step answer:The chemical name of bleaching powder is calcium hypochlorite.
So bleaching powder is a pale yellowish powder which exists with a strong smell of chlorine. it is soluble in water but because it has impurities present in it, we never observe a clear solution.
The chemical formula of bleaching powder is \[CaOC{l_2}\]
let us have a look on the preparation of bleaching powder:
If we pass the chlorine gas on dry slaked lime, we will get the outcome as bleaching powder and water
$Ca{(OH)_2} + C{l_2} \to CaOC{l_2} + {H_2}O$
So, here the combination of calcium oxychloride and chlorine is combining together so this process is called as chlorination of lime
Uses of bleaching powder:
1.It is used as a bleaching agent in the textile industry and paper industry.
2.It is used as an oxidizing agent in chemical industry
3.It is used as disinfectant for drinking water, to make it germ free.
4.It is used for bleaching cotton and linen in the textile industry.

Note:In bleaching the chlorine gas released from bleaching powder reacts with Nascent oxygen converts colored water to form nascent oxygen. This substance changing from colored to colorless is known as bleaching. Also bleaching powder is basic in nature.