Question

What is bleaching? Write the chemical name and two main uses of bleaching powder..

Answer 1

Bleaching- The chlorine gas released from bleaching powder reacts with water to form nascent oxygen. This Nascent oxygens converts coloured substance to colourless substances, which is known as bleaching.
$\underset{\underset{substance}{Coloured}}{C{l}_2}\underset{+}{+}\underset{\left[O\right]}{H_{2}O}\underrightarrow{\to }\underset{\underset{substance}{Colourless}}{2HCl}+\left[O\right]$ Nascent Oxygen
Bleaching powder is calcium Oxychloride, its chemical formula is $CaOC{l}_2$.
Uses:
(i) As a disinfectant.
(ii) As an oxidant in chemical industry.
(iii) In the purification of water.
(iv) In textile industry and in paper industry for bleaching.