Question

In the textile industries, which of the following is used to bleach cotton fabrics?

• A. Chlorine
• B. Hydrogen
• C. Nitrogen
• D. Ozone

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Chlorine

In the textile industry, chlorine is used to bleach cotton fabrics. The bleaching action of chlorine is due to oxidation.

Chlorine reacts with moisture and forms hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids.

$C{l}_2+H_{2}O\to HCl+HClO$

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is unstable, so it breaks down to form nascent oxygen [O].

$HClO\to HCl+\left[O\right]$

The nascent oxygen is a powerful bleaching agent and is responsible for the bleaching action.