What is Bleaching Powder?

What is Bleaching Powder? Bleaching Powder is a white powder consisting chiefly of calcium hydroxide, calcium chloride, and calcium hypochlorite and used as a bleach, disinfectant, or deodorant. The main component is calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)₂), and the effective chlorine content is 30%-38%. The bleaching powder is white or off-white powder or granule, has a significant chlorine odor, is very unstable, has strong hygroscopicity, and is easily decomposed by light, heat, water and ethanol. Bleaching powder is dissolved in water, and its aqueous solution can make the litmus paper blue, and then gradually fade and become white. In case of carbon dioxide in the air, hypochlorous acid can be liberated, and in case of dilute hydrochloric acid, a large amount of chlorine gas can be produced. Bleaching powder disinfection is a water treatment process that uses the oxidation effect of bleaching powder to sterilize drinking water and wastewater.