Question

Bleaching action of chlorine is due to:

A) reduction.

B) oxidation.

C) acidic effect.

D) basic effect.

Answer 1

Fabric is whitened by eliminating natural colours. Bleaching, for example, is used to tan linen. This is an example of oxidation. Chlorine makes nascent oxygen when it combines with water. This nascent oxygen reacts with colourful compounds in organic materials, oxidising them to colourless compounds.

Cl2 + H2O → HCl + HClO

HClO→ HCl+[O]

Colored substance +[O]→ Colorless substance

HCl→ Hydrochloric acid

HClO → Hypochlorous acid

Only in the presence of moisture does chlorine work as an oxidising agent. Chlorine is a powerful oxidizer. As a result of the previous reasoning, (B) oxidation is the right option. Nascent oxygen is atomic oxygen, which is denoted by the letter O in a square bracket. Chlorine is a powerful oxidizer because it produces nascent oxygen.

Chlorine is an extremely valuable substance. It is extensively used as an antiseptic and to ensure the safety of drinking water. It’s also used to make paper, plastic colours, pharmaceuticals, antiseptics, and pesticides, among other things. Because it includes the oxidation process, chlorine’s bleaching activity is irreversible. Sulphur dioxide bleaches as well, although only for a short time, since it requires a reduction process. SO2 depletes the oxygen in a pigmented material, rendering it colourless.

SO2 + 2H2O→ H2SO4 + 4[H]

Color material +[H]→ colorless matter.

 

 

Bleaching action of chlorine is due to reduction.