What is the Chemical Name of Bleaching Powder?

By Balaji

Updated on: March 15th, 2023

The Chemical Name of Bleaching Powder is Calcium hypochlorite. It is also known as Calcium Oxychloride and is a white powdery substance. It was introduced in 1799 by Scottish chemist Charles Tennant. Bleach is made up of chlorine and lime. As a result of this, it is also popularly called the ‘chloride of lime.’ Bleaching powder has many uses, such as cleaning water, production of chlorine gas, etc.

Table of content

1. Chemical Name of Bleaching Powder
2. What is the Chemical Name of Bleaching Powder?

Chemical Name of Bleaching Powder

Calcium hypochlorite or Calcium Oxychloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OCl)2. It is produced industrially by treating lime (Ca(OH)2) with chlorine gas. Bleaching powder is a mixture of calcium hypochlorite, dibasic calcium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxy chloride.

Calcium hypochlorite should not be stored near acid, organic materials, or metals or as wet and hot. Bleaching powder has various uses, especially in the textile industry.

It is used as an oxidizer due to its strong oxidizing properties.
It acts as a bleaching agent on clothes, especially cotton, and linen.
It is effective in getting rid of stains that are difficult to remove.
Bleaching powder is also used to clean water as it acts as a disinfectant.

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