Bleaching powder (Calcium hypochlorite)

Bleaching powder is soluble in water and is used as a bleaching agent in textile industries.

Bleaching powder is also used as an oxidizing agent and a disinfectant in many industries.

Bleaching powder should also be noted that bleaching powder is synthesized by the reacting chlorine gas on dry slaked lime i.e. Ca(OH)2.

Bleaching powder is an inorganic compound.

Bleaching powder strongly smells of chlorine.

Bleaching powder used for water treatment and as a bleaching agent.

Chemical name of Bleaching powder - Calcium hypochlorite

Chemical formula of Bleaching powder – Ca(OCl)Cl or CaOCl2

Molar mass of Bleaching powder- 142.98 g/mol

Appearance of Bleaching powder- white/commercial samples appear yellow.

Density of Bleaching powder- 2.35 g/cm3 (20 °C)

Melting point of Bleaching powder- 100 °C (212 °F; 373 K)

Boiling point of Bleaching powder- 175 °C (347 °F; 448 K) decomposes

Solubility of Bleaching powder in water- 21 g/100 mL at 25 °C

Bleaching powder reacts in alcohol.

Preparation of Bleaching powder –

Ca(OH)2(aq)+Cl2(g)→CaOCl2(aq)+H2O(l)

On interaction with water – bleaching powder releases chlorine which is responsible for bleaching action.

It is used for bleaching dirty clothes in the laundry, as a bleaching agent for cotton and linen in the textile industry.

It is a strong oxidizing agent, hence used as an oxidizer in many industries.

It is used as a disinfectant which is used for disinfecting water to make potable water.