Consider the following statements about bleaching powder: 1. It is chemically prepared by passing chlorine gas over dry slaked lime. 2. It acts as an oxidizing agent in many chemical industries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Bleaching powder is manufactured commercially by the action of chlorine gas produced during the chlor-alkali process on dry calcium hydroxide, yielding calcium oxychloride. It functions effectively as a powerful oxidizing agent due to the release of active chlorine in aqueous solutions, making it useful for disinfecting drinking water and bleaching textiles. Incorrect choices miss one of these standard industrial preparation or reactivity facts. Bleaching powder gives off a strong smell of chlorine because it reacts slowly with atmospheric carbon dioxide.