Question

Discuss the action of bleaching powder with the following compounds: (a) \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) (b) \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) (c) \(\mathrm{COCl}_{2}\) (d) \(\mathrm{PbO}\) (e) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\)

Short answer

Bleaching powder shows different reactions with different compounds. With CO2, it forms calcium carbonate and chlorine gas. With Cl2, more bleaching powder is produced. With COCl2, it forms calcium oxychloride, carbon dioxide, and chlorine. With PbO, it forms lead(II) chloride, calcium chloride and water. Lastly with H2SO4, it forms calcium sulfate, water, and chlorine gas.

Step-by-step solution

Reacting Bleaching Powder with CO2

Bleaching powder reacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate and chlorine gas. The reaction can be written as: \( CaOCl2 + CO2 \rightarrow CaCO3 + Cl2 \)

Reacting Bleaching Powder with Cl2

When bleaching powder reacts with chlorine gas, it leads to more bleaching powder being produced. The reaction is: \( CaOCl2 + Cl2 \rightarrow CaOCl_{2}Cl_{2} \)

Reacting Bleaching Powder with COCl2

Bleaching powder reacts with carbonyl chloride to yield calcium oxychloride, carbon dioxide and chlorine. The reaction is: \( CaOCl2 + COCl2 \rightarrow CaOCl_{2}Cl_{2} + CO2 \)

Reacting Bleaching Powder with PbO

Bleaching powder reacts with lead(II) oxide to form lead(II) chloride, calcium chloride and water. The reaction can be expressed as: \( 2CaOCl2 + PbO \rightarrow PbCl2 + 2CaCl2 + H2O \)

Reacting Bleaching Powder with H2SO4

Bleaching powder reacts with sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate, water and chlorine gas. The reaction breakdown is: \( CaOCl2 + H2SO4 \rightarrow CaSO4 + 2H2O + Cl2 \)

Key concepts

Understanding Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions are processes where one or more substances, called reactants, are transformed into different substances, known as products. This transformation involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.
In the context of bleaching powder, each reaction occurs when the calcium oxychloride in the powder interacts with other compounds.

• Different reactants produce different products.
• The nature of the product depends largely on the properties of the reactants involved.
• During the reaction, energy can be either absorbed or released.

Understanding these fundamentals can help in predicting the outcomes of reactions involving bleaching powder and other compounds.

The Role of Calcium Oxychloride

Bleaching powder, known chemically as calcium oxychloride ( CaOCl_2), serves as a key player in many important reactions due to its oxidative properties.
This inorganic compound has multiple applications, especially in disinfecting and bleaching.

• Bleaching powder acts as a source of chlorine through various reactions.
• It can decompose to release chlorine, which has powerful bleaching and disinfecting abilities.
• This process makes bleach effective for purifying water and cleaning surfaces.

Its unique characteristics make it a widely used compound in chemical industries.

Educational Chemistry Approaches

Educational chemistry helps students understand the principles and laws governing chemical reactions. Practical examples, like reactions involving bleaching powder, are used to illustrate these concepts.
By studying these reactions, students can learn:

• How theoretical knowledge applies to real-world chemical reactions.
• The importance of balancing chemical equations for accuracy.
• Predicting the influence of different reactants on reaction outcomes.

Approach learning chemistry with curiosity, and explore how these reactions are applied in various industries.

Inorganic Compounds and Their Properties

Inorganic compounds, such as calcium oxychloride, generally include minerals and other compounds that are not based on carbon chains.
These compounds have distinct properties and applications that are crucial to various scientific and industrial processes.

• They often exhibit high melting points and boiling points.
• Many inorganic compounds, like bleaching powder, showcase significant reactivity with various substances.
• They play key roles in numerous chemical reactions, contributing to functions such as disinfection and water treatment.

Understanding the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds is vital in fields ranging from environmental science to engineering.