Bleaching Powder
Related Category: Compounds and Elements
white or nearly white powder that is usually a mixture of calcium chloride hypochlorite, CaCl(OCl); calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)
2; and calcium chloride, CaCl
2. Sometimes called chloride of lime, it can be prepared by reacting calcium hydroxide or slaked lime, Ca(OH)
2, with chlorine gas, Cl
2. It is used as a strong bleaching agent, as a disinfectant, and in making
Javelle water. Bleaching powder was first produced in 1799 by Charles Tennant in Glasgow, Scotland.
