Question

In order to disinfect the swimming pool, your swimming coach adds 3 to 4 bleaching powder tablets. You insist that he adds more so that the pool can be nicely disinfected, but firmly rejects.

1. Why should an excess of bleaching powder not be added to swimming pools?
2. What value do you think your coach exhibited by denying your desire to add more tablets to the water?

Answer 1

a.

• Bleaching powder is calcium oxy-chloride, which is prepared when dry Slaked lime is made to react with Chlorine.$\underset{(\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{hydroxide})}{\underbrace{\mathrm{Ca}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}+\underset{(\mathrm{Chlorine}\mathrm{gas})}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}}\to \underset{(\mathrm{Bleaching}\mathrm{powder})}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{CaOCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{\underbrace{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}}$
• It is used as a disinfectant for pool water.
• But when an excess bleaching powder is added it could cause trouble for swimmers and bathers.
• Swimming pool water when gets too concentrated with bleaching powder could become toxic, and it could also cause respiratory, skin, or eye issues.
• This happens because bleaching powder is highly basic with a pH value equal to 12.
• Therefore excess bleaching powder in the swimming pool is not advisable.

b.

• My coach does not want to add more tablets to the water in the pool, because he is worried about the toxicity that tablets will create in the water.
• As due to this reason, I could have serious health issues. Swimming in highly concentrated bleach water could cause damage to my lungs, and I could get asthma.
• Also, the toxic pool could cause skin and eyes related problems in long run.