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Bleaching Powder and Sodium Hydroxide - Overview, Preparation, Formula, Uses, FAQs

Bleaching Powder and Sodium Hydroxide - Overview, Preparation, Formula, Uses, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jun 20, 2022 04:55 PM IST

What is bleaching powder?

The chemical name of bleaching powder calcium hypochlorite has the formula CaO(Cl)2. Bleaching powder, chlorine powder, or chlorinated lime are among the main ingredients of commercial bleaching products. The most commonly used bleaching agent is in water treatment. In comparison with sodium hypochlorite, this compound is relatively stable and has a higher chlorine availability. The composition of bleaching powder is Calcium, Oxygen and Chlorine(gas). Even though commercial samples appear yellow, it is a solid white colour. It smells strongly of chlorine because chlorine decomposes slowly in moist air.

Bleaching powder - What is the formula of bleaching powder?

As we know, the chemical formula of bleaching powder is calcium hypochlorite. Chemically, it is an inorganic compound. CaO(Cl)2 chemical formula of Calcium hypochlorite. Commercial products are called bleaching powder, chlorinated lime, or chlorine powder. The compound is comparatively constant and contains more chlorine than sodium hypochlorite (liquid bleach). In commercial samples, most of them appear yellow, even though it's a white solid. Hard water does not dissolve it, so it is used more for soft water treatment instead. Anhydrous (hydrated) and anhydrous (dry) are two forms.

Also read :

One Teaspoon of Bleaching powder

Sodium chloride (common salt)

  1. The reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide forms common salt.

  2. This chemical compound has the chemical name sodium chloride NaCl

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The material is used to produce many chemical compounds, including caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), bleaching powder, etc. CaOCl2

Also read -

Bleaching powder: Bleaching powder formula?

How is bleaching powder prepared or Preparation of bleaching powder is combination with chlorine gas (produced by the chlorine alkali process) is applied to dry slaked lime, CaO(Cl)2.

Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaCl2 + CaO(Cl)2 + H2O

Bleaching powder uses or Uses of Bleaching powder class 10:

  1. This chemical is used to bleach linen, cotton, as well as washed clothing while it is in the laundry.
  2. Oxidizing agents like bleaching powder, CaO(Cl)2, are frequently used in chemical industries.

  3. Germicides and disinfectants like chlorine are used to remove harmful microorganisms from drinking water.
  4. Chloroform is produced with it.
  5. Wool becomes unshrinking when it is treated with it.

Sodium Hydroxide

Caustic soda is also known as sodium hydroxide. The compound is inorganic. NaOH is the formula for sodium hydroxide. This white solid ionic compound consists of sodium cations, Na+, and hydroxide anions, OH-. A highly corrosive alkali and base, sodium hydroxide degrades proteins at room temperature and may result in severe chemical burns. The product disperses readily in water, absorbing water and carbon dioxide from the air. NaOH.nH2O are formed as hydrates. Between 12.3°C and 61.8°C, monohydrate NaOH.nH2O crystallizes in water solutions.

Sodium hydroxide by Danny S

The chemical formula of common salt

Sodium hydroxide reacts with protic acids to form salts and water. When sodium hydroxide is combined with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride is produced.

NaOH(aq)+ HCl(aq)→ NaCl(aq)+H2O(l)

NCERT Chemistry Notes :

The preparation of sodium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide is generally made by electrolyzing sodium chloride in a Kastner-Kellner cell. The carbon anode is electrolyzed, whereas the mercury cathode is electrolyzed. The sodium metal, released at the cathode, combines with mercury to form a sodium amalgam. Gases of chlorine emerge from the cathode. Hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide are generated from amalgam when it is treated with water.

Common Salt Sodium Chloride Uses

Sodium chloride is required to maintain the electrolyte balance in the human body. A person can become over hydrated or dehydrated if their electrolyte levels become too high or low. A special coating of sodium chloride is used to store and flavour foods for thousands of years. A preservative, salt helps to prevent decay and keeps foods safe to eat. In addition to pickles, sauerkraut, and kefir, salt is also used in fermented foods. The refinement of vegetable oils and petroleum also uses it. Bauxite is also purified by using it, and aluminium is removed. Other uses include cleaning agents for machines and metal sheets as well as in laundry powder.

Sodium Chloride Properties

  • The compound readily dissolves in water and partly dissolves or is insoluble in other liquids.
  • Heat has a persistent effect on it.
  • White crystals of sodium chloride do not have an odour or taste but have a white appearance.
  • The free movement of the ions in aqueous NaCl makes it a good conductor of electricity.
  • NaCl has a melting point of 801°C and a boiling point of 1,413°C.

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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What is bleach and what is the chemical name/formula of bleaching powder?

Bleaching powder is known as bleach and bleach chemical formula is CaOCl2 and is known as Calcium Oxychloride. It is made with slaked lime and chlorine gas.

2. How acidic or basic is bleaching powder?

Bleaching powder contains a basic character. Hydrochloric acid reacts with bleaching powder to produce calcium chloride, chlorine, and water.


3. Does bleaching powder have a pH value?

Bleach usually contains 5% sodium hypochlorite, which has a pH of 11 and slightly irritates the skin.

4. What is the significance of sodium hydroxide?

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a metallic caustic base that is also known as lye or caustic soda. Caustic soda is primarily used in pulp and paper production, textile manufacturing, bleaching powder in water treatment, and detergent manufacture as a strong chemical base.

5. Bleach and sodium hydroxide be mixed?

To prevent sodium hypochlorite from decomposing, household bleach often contains sodium hydroxide. It is common to use sodium hydroxide in reactions to increase the pH of sodium hypochlorite.

6. What are the physical properties of sodium hydroxide?

The melting point of sodium hydroxide is 318°C (604°F) without breakdown, and its boiling point is 2,530°C (1,388°C). Crystalline and colourless, it is solid. The solvent is highly dispersible in water, but less so in cold solvents such as methanol and ethanol. Solvents other than NaOH are insoluble in NaOH. A large amount of heat is released during the dissolution of solid sodium hydroxide in water. Usually, the resulting solution is colourless and odourless. Touching it feels slippery due to the saponification process that occurs between NaOH and natural skin oils.

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