Question

The bleaching action of chlorine is an oxidation reaction. Why?

Answer 1

Hint:Chlorine when reacting with water it oxidizes the oxygen in it and itself gets reduced, so while discussing the bleaching power of chlorine you are actually seeing the oxidation reaction. During the oxidation reaction oxygen gets changed from higher oxidation state to lower oxidation state and itself it gets changed to lower state from higher oxidation state.

Complete step-by-step answer:What is bleaching agent and what is its formula? You might think about it whenever a washing powder advertisement comes on your television. So, bleaching agents are those substances which help to oxidize. It means when these agents mix with substance they change the substance from its lower oxidation state to higher and itself get reduced. Its reduction means that it itself changes from higher oxidation state to lower.
In case of chlorine, there involves a permanent oxidation so when chlorine reacts with water it produces nascent oxygen it means oxygen which is in the water as having an oxidation state of $( - 2)$ changes to $0$ . Mow the nascent oxygen produced reacts with colour material and makes it colourless. Thus it is not good to use detergent or powder which have some bleaching agents because they make cloth light. It acts as a powerful oxidising agent means it does reduction of its own.
 $C{l_2}\, + \,{H_2}O\, \to \,HCl\, + \,HClO$
$HClO\,\, \to \,HCl\, + \,[O]$
$Colour\,material\, + \,[O]\, \to \,colourless\,$

Note:So, chlorine bleaching action properties are not good for clothes. Its oxidizing power is behind its action. So, whenever it comes to show any material as a bleaching agent try to figure about the process that it shows. Bleaching action is always due to oxidizing power of substance. There are two types of bleaching action one is permanent which is for chlorine and for sulphur it is called temporary.