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Bleaching Powder

Bleaching powder is calcium oxychloride. The chemical formula of bleaching powder is CaOCl₂. It is also called chloride of lime.

Bleaching powder, white or nearly white powder that is usually a mixture of calcium chloride hypochlorite, CaCl(OCl); calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)₂; and calcium chloride, CaCl₂. Sometimes called chloride of lime, it can be prepared by reacting calcium hydroxide or slaked lime, Ca(OH)₂, with chlorine gas, Cl₂.

Uses :

1. Bleaching powder is used for bleaching cotton and linen in textile industry and for bleaching wood pulp in paper industry. It is also used for bleaching washed clothes in laundry (Laundry is a place where clothes are washed and pressed). The bleaching action of bleaching powder is due to the chlorine released by it.
2. Bleaching powder is used for disinfecting drinking water supply. That is, for making drinking water free from germs.
3. Bleaching powder is used for the manufacture of chloroform (CHCl₃).
4. Bleaching powder is used as an oxidizing agent in many chemical industries.

Applications :

1. Water treatment
2. Textiles
3. Epidemic control
4. Aquaculture
5. Carpet industry
6. Pulp and paper
7. Health departments, hotels, offices, homes etc.