Question

What happens when bleaching powder is stored over a long period of time? Give equation.

Short answer

Answer: The balanced chemical equation is 2Ca(OCl)_2 ⟶ 2CaCl_2 + 2H_2O + O_2. Bleaching powder decomposes into calcium chloride, water, and oxygen gas.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the chemical formula of bleaching powder

Bleaching powder, also known as calcium hypochlorite, is a white powder with the chemical formula Ca(OCl)_2.

Write down the decomposition reaction of bleaching powder

When bleaching powder is stored for a long time, it decomposes into calcium chloride, water, and oxygen gas: Ca(OCl)_2 ⟶ CaCl_2 + H_2O + O_2

Balance the decomposition reaction

Balancing the chemical equation, we obtain: 2Ca(OCl)_2 ⟶ 2CaCl_2 + 2H_2O + O_2 So, when bleaching powder is stored over a long period of time, it decomposes into calcium chloride, water, and oxygen gas. The balanced chemical equation for this decomposition is: 2Ca(OCl)_2 ⟶ 2CaCl_2 + 2H_2O + O_2