Study Guides/Chemistry/CaOCl2 Chemical Name

Study Guide · Chemistry

What is the Chemical Name of CaOCl2?

The chemical formula CaOCl₂ represents a highly common and widely used inorganic compound. Its official chemical name is Calcium Oxychloride (or Calcium Hypochlorite). However, in everyday language and industry, it is famous by its common name: Bleaching Powder.

Question (Click to Flip)

What is the chemical name of CaOCl2?

Answer

The chemical name of CaOCl2 is Calcium Oxychloride, though it is also known as Calcium Hypochlorite.

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Key Facts

Chemical Formula: CaOCl₂.

Chemical Name: Calcium Oxychloride / Calcium Hypochlorite.

Common Name: Bleaching Powder.

Ingredients required: Dry slaked lime and Chlorine gas.

Primary action: Releases chlorine to kill bacteria or bleach fabrics.

Preparation of Bleaching Powder

Bleaching powder is manufactured through a simple, large-scale industrial reaction. It is produced by passing Chlorine gas (Cl₂) over dry slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide).

The Reaction: Ca(OH)₂ + Cl₂ → CaOCl₂ + H₂O (Slaked Lime + Chlorine → Bleaching Powder + Water)

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: It is a pale yellowish-white powder.
Odor: It emits a very strong, sharp smell of chlorine because it slowly reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air to release chlorine gas.
Solubility: It is soluble in cold water, but there is always a small amount of white residue left behind due to the presence of unreacted lime.

Major Uses of CaOCl₂

Bleaching powder is incredibly useful in daily life and industry:

Water Purification: Because it releases chlorine gas, it acts as a powerful disinfectant to kill bacteria and germs in drinking water and swimming pools.
Textile Industry: As the name suggests, it is used as a bleaching agent to remove the color from cotton and linen fabrics.
Chemical Industry: It is used as a strong oxidizing agent in many chemical factories.

Questions and Answers

What is the chemical name of CaOCl2?+

The chemical name of CaOCl2 is Calcium Oxychloride, though it is also known as Calcium Hypochlorite.

What is the common name of CaOCl2?+

Its everyday common name is Bleaching Powder.

How is bleaching powder prepared?+

It is prepared by passing chlorine gas over dry slaked lime [Ca(OH)2].

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