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Which one of the following is present as an active ingredient in bleaching powder for bleaching action?
A
$CaCl_2$
B
$CaOCl_2$
C
$Ca(OCl)_2$
D
$CaO_2Cl$
Detailed Solution
Bleaching powder is made by passing chlorine over dry slaked lime: $2Ca(OH)_2 + 2Cl_2 \rightarrow Ca(OCl)_2 + CaCl_2 + 2H_2O$
Its composition is $Ca(OCl)_2\cdot CaCl_2\cdot Ca(OH)_2\cdot2H_2O$.
The bleaching action is due to the hypochlorite ion, $OCl^-$, which is an oxidising agent and releases available chlorine.
$CaCl_2$ has no bleaching action.
Hence the active ingredient is calcium hypochlorite, $Ca(OCl)_2$.
Its composition is $Ca(OCl)_2\cdot CaCl_2\cdot Ca(OH)_2\cdot2H_2O$.
The bleaching action is due to the hypochlorite ion, $OCl^-$, which is an oxidising agent and releases available chlorine.
$CaCl_2$ has no bleaching action.
Hence the active ingredient is calcium hypochlorite, $Ca(OCl)_2$.