Question
Why does bleaching powder smell of chlorine in damp air
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Bleaching powder, also known as calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)₂), releases chlorine gas when it reacts with moisture in the air or water. In damp conditions, the compound can react with water to produce hypochlorous acid (HClO) and chlorine gas (Cl₂), which is what gives off the characteristic odor of chlorine.
The reaction can be summarized as follows:
\[
\text{Ca(OCl)}_2 + 2H_2O \rightarrow \text{Ca(OH)}_2 + 2HClO
\]
\[
2HClO \rightarrow 2HCl + O_2 + Cl_2
\]
The chlorine gas released is what you smell when you encounter bleaching powder in damp air. This is also why bleaching powder is more odorous in humid environments, as the presence of moisture facilitates the chemical reactions that produce chlorine gas.
The reaction can be summarized as follows:
\[
\text{Ca(OCl)}_2 + 2H_2O \rightarrow \text{Ca(OH)}_2 + 2HClO
\]
\[
2HClO \rightarrow 2HCl + O_2 + Cl_2
\]
The chlorine gas released is what you smell when you encounter bleaching powder in damp air. This is also why bleaching powder is more odorous in humid environments, as the presence of moisture facilitates the chemical reactions that produce chlorine gas.