Question

Chemically bleaching powder is called:
(A) Calcium oxychloride
(B) Calcium chlorohypochlorite
(C) Calcium monooxygen chloride
(D) Calcium oxygen dichloride

Answer 1

Hint: The chemical formula of bleaching powder is$CaOC{l}_2$.. It is prepared by passing chlorine over slaked lime. Bleaching powder is used for disinfecting drinking water as the liberated chlorine kills the germs. Calcium has Valency as 2 , oxygen also has Valency as 2 and chlorine has Valency as 1.

Complete solution step by step:
Uses of bleaching powder:
- It is used for bleaching dirty clothes in the laundry. It acts as a bleaching agent for cotton and linen in the textile industry.
- It is used as an oxidizer in many industries as it is a strong oxidizing agent.
- It is used as a disinfectant which is used for disinfecting water to make potable water.
Method of preparation of bleaching powder:
Bleaching powder is synthesized by the action of chlorine gas($C{l}_2$) on dry slaked lime ($Ca{(OH)}_2$).
$Ca{(OH)}_{2(s)}+C{l}_{2(g)}\to CaOC{l}_{2(s)}+H_2{O}_{(l)}$
When bleaching powder($CaOC{l}_2$) reacts with dilute sulphuric acid($H_{2}S{O}_4$), it liberates chlorine gas ($C{l}_2$). This Chlorine gas is called Available chlorine.
Following is the reaction stating the same:
$CaOC{l}_2+H_{2}S{O}_4\to CaS{O}_4+C{l}_2+H_{2}O$
The valency of Chlorine atom increases to 0 in this reaction. Hence, Chlorine undergoes Oxidation in this reaction.
As the chemical formula of bleaching powder is$CaOC{l}_2$

So the correct option is (A) Calcium oxychloride.

Note: Bleaching powder is also called chlorine powder, chloride of lime or chlorinated lime. The other chemical name is Calcium hypochlorite. It is a white powder with odour of chlorine. It is a strong Oxidizing agent. Dilute acids react quickly with bleaching powder to release chlorine gas. - It is used for bleaching dirty clothes in the laundry. It acts as a bleaching agent for cotton and linen in the textile industry.