Question

What is the formula of chlorine water?

Answer 1

Hint :We know that the chlorine is the element of group $17$ and period $3$ of the p-block. When it reacts with water it shows oxidizing properties and there is a formation of hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid which is very unstable.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Chlorine is the element of group $17$ and period $3$ of the p-block. So it is placed right to the periodic table hence it is a gas specifically saying greenish-yellow gas with a pungent and suffocating odor. It is soluble in water and forms products. So the chlorine has oxidizing properties when it is reacted with water because there is an evolution of nascent oxygen. So when the chlorine is dissolved in the water there is a formation of chlorine water, but when this chlorine water stands for a long time, the chlorine water will start to lose its yellow color. This is due to the formation of hydrochloric acid whose chemical formula is $HCl$ and hypochlorous acid whose chemical formula is $HOCl.$ This formed Hypochlorous acid is a very unstable compound, as soon as it forms it starts to decompose and give nascent oxygen. This formed Hypochlorous acid is a very unstable compound, as soon as it forms it starts to decompose and give nascent oxygen. This nascent oxygen is responsible for the oxidizing property of chlorine. This nascent oxygen is responsible for the oxidizing property of chlorine. The reaction for chlorine water is given as: $C{l}_2+H_{2}O\to HCl+HOCl+2HCl+\left[O\right]$.

Note :
Remember that the chlorine is actually acting as an oxidizing agent and not a reducing agent. Addition of hydrogen is termed as reduction. In the above question hydrogen is being attached to chlorine so reduction of chlorine is taking place. The ones who themselves get reduced, oxidize others, because oxidation and reduction are complementary to each other. Hence chlorine acts as an oxidizing agent.