The Chemical formula for bleaching powder is Ca(ClO)2.
characteristics of bleaching powder
| Characteristic | Description |
| Chemical Formula | Ca(ClO)2 |
| Appearance | White or light grey powder or granules |
| Odor | Strong chlorine-like odor |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water, soluble in acids |
| pH | Alkaline (pH 10-11) when dissolved in water |
| Stability | Unstable in the presence of light, heat, and moisture |
| Uses | Bleaching agent, disinfectant, water treatment, textile industry, paper industry, and more. |
| Health Hazards | Can cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory problems, and other health issues if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. |
Reaction of bleaching powder with Alkaline Earth Metal
| Alkaline Earth Metal | Reaction with Bleaching Powder |
| Beryllium (Be) | No reaction |
| Magnesium (Mg) | No reaction |
| Calcium (Ca) | Reacts vigorously to produce calcium chloride, calcium chlorate, and oxygen gas: Ca(ClO)2 + 2Ca → 3CaO + 2Cl2 |
| Strontium (Sr) | Reacts vigorously to produce strontium chloride, strontium chlorate, and oxygen gas: Sr(ClO)2 + 2Sr → 3SrO + 2Cl2 |
| Barium (Ba) | Reacts vigorously to produce barium chloride, barium chlorate, and oxygen gas: Ba(ClO)2 + 2Ba → 3BaO + 2Cl2 |
Reaction of bleaching powder with Transition Metal
| Transition Metal | Reaction with Bleaching Powder |
| Iron (Fe) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form iron(III) oxide and calcium chloride: 2Fe + 3Ca(ClO)2 → Fe2O3 + 3CaCl2 |
| Copper (Cu) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form copper(II) chloride and calcium hydroxide: Cu + Ca(ClO)2 + 2H2O → CuCl2 + Ca(OH)2 + 2HClO |
| Manganese (Mn) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form manganese dioxide and calcium chloride: 2Mn + 3Ca(ClO)2 → 2MnO2 + 3CaCl2 |
| Nickel (Ni) | No reaction observed |
| Zinc (Zn) | No reaction observed |
| Silver (Ag) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form silver chloride and calcium hydroxide: 2Ag + Ca(ClO)2 + 2H2O → 2AgCl + Ca(OH)2 + 2HClO |
Reaction of bleaching powder with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal | Reaction with Bleaching Powder |
| Hydrogen (H) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form hydrochloric acid and water: H2 + 2Ca(ClO)2 → 2CaCl2 + 2H2O + Cl2 |
| Helium (He) | No reaction observed |
| Lithium (Li) | No significant reaction observed |
| Beryllium (Be) | No significant reaction observed |
| Boron (B) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form boric acid and calcium chloride: 2B + 3Ca(ClO)2 + 6H2O → 2H3BO3 + 3CaCl2 + 6HClO |
| Carbon (C) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form carbon dioxide gas and calcium chloride: C + Ca(ClO)2 → CO2 + CaCl2 |
| Nitrogen (N) | No reaction observed |
| Oxygen (O) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form oxygen gas and calcium chloride: 2Ca(ClO)2 → 2CaCl2 + 2O2 |
| Fluorine (F) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form calcium fluoride and oxygen gas: 2Ca(ClO)2 + 4HF → 4HClO + 2CaF2 + O2 |
| Neon (Ne) | No reaction observed |
| Sodium (Na) | No significant reaction observed |
| Magnesium (Mg) | No significant reaction observed |
| Aluminum (Al) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form aluminum chloride and calcium hydroxide: 2Al + 3Ca(ClO)2 + 6H2O → 2Al(OH)3 + 3CaCl2 + 6HClO |
Reaction of bleaching powder with Non-Metal
| Non-Metal | Reaction with Bleaching Powder |
| Hydrogen (H) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form hydrochloric acid and water: H2 + 2Ca(ClO)2 → 2CaCl2 + 2H2O + Cl2 |
| Helium (He) | No reaction observed |
| Carbon (C) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form carbon dioxide gas and calcium chloride: C + Ca(ClO)2 → CO2 + CaCl2 |
| Nitrogen (N) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form nitrogen gas and calcium chloride: 2Ca(ClO)2 + 2NH3 → 2CaCl2 + N2 + 3H2O |
| Oxygen (O) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form oxygen gas and calcium chloride: 2Ca(ClO)2 → 2CaCl2 + 2O2 |
| Fluorine (F) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form calcium fluoride and oxygen gas: 2Ca(ClO)2 + 4HF → 4HClO + 2CaF2 + O2 |
| Neon (Ne) | No reaction observed |
| Phosphorus (P) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form phosphoric acid and calcium chloride: 4P + 10Ca(ClO)2 + 18H2O → 4H3PO4 + 20CaCl2 + 10HClO |
Reaction of bleaching powder with Metalloid
| Metalloid | Reaction with Bleaching Powder |
| Boron (B) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form boric acid and calcium chloride: B2O3 + 6Ca(ClO)2 + 12H2O → 2H3BO3 + 6CaCl2 + 12HClO |
| Silicon (Si) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form silicic acid and calcium chloride: 3SiO2 + 6Ca(ClO)2 + 12H2O → 2H2SiO3 + 6CaCl2 + 12HClO |
| Germanium (Ge) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form germanium oxide and calcium chloride: GeO2 + 2Ca(ClO)2 → CaCl2 + GeOCl2 |
| Arsenic (As) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form arsenic acid and calcium chloride: As2O3 + 3Ca(ClO)2 + 6H2O → 2H3AsO4 + 3CaCl2 + 6HClO |
| Antimony (Sb) | Reacts with bleaching powder to form antimony chloride and calcium hydroxide: 2Sb + 5Ca(ClO)2 + 10H2O → Sb2O5 + 5Ca(OH)2 + 5Cl2 |
