Question

Identify the compound of calcium which is yellowish white powder and is used for disinfecting drinking water. Write its chemical name and formula. How is it manufactured? Write the chemical equation for the reaction involved. Also list two other uses of the compound.

Answer 1

Hint: The answer to this question relies on the fact that we use the powder of calcium and is known by the common name bleaching powder. The chemical formula leads you to the required answer.

Complete step by step answer:
We have come across various chemicals that we use in our daily lives as a matter of health and also as disinfectant and also many other forms of chemicals including the drugs we consume during disease.
We shall see the chemical composition of this bleaching powder and its manufacturing process.
- Bleaching powder is a well known chemical used as disinfectant in drinking water that is yellowish white powder. This chemical has the formula $CaOC{{l}_{2}}$ that is calcium hypochlorite and this chemical is also called calcium oxychloride.
- Bleaching powder is manufactured by using the two raw materials that are slaked lime and chlorine gas.
- The process involves passing of the chlorine gas through the slaked lime solution and the reaction that is taking place is as shown below,
\[Ca{{(OH)}_{2}}+C{{l}_{2}}\to CaOC{{l}_{2}}+{{H}_{2}}O\]
The other uses of this bleaching powder include:
- It is used in the manufacture of chloroform that is $CHC{{l}_{3}}$.
- It is used for bleaching the cotton, linen in textile industries and also to bleach the dirty clothes.
Apart from these uses, it is also used as an oxidising agent in many chemical industries.

Note: Note that the slaked lime and quicklime are different terms used which have different chemical formulas where slaked lime is nothing but the calcium hydroxide in the solid state whereas quick lime is the calcium oxide in the solid state.