Bleaching powder is a chemical compound that is widely used in industries and households for a variety of purposes. This white powder is known for its strong oxidizing properties and is used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant. In this article, we will explore the definition, meaning, and associations of bleaching powder.
Definitions
Bleaching powder is a white powder that is made by treating calcium oxide (quicklime) with chlorine gas. It is also known as calcium hypochlorite and is commonly used for bleaching, disinfecting, and water treatment. The chemical formula of bleaching powder is Ca(ClO)2.
Origin
The discovery of bleaching powder is credited to Scottish chemist Charles Tennant, who first produced it in 1799. Tennant was looking for a way to bleach cotton and other textiles, and he found that treating quicklime with chlorine gas produced a powerful bleaching agent. The use of bleaching powder quickly spread to other industries, including papermaking, water treatment, and food processing.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, bleaching powder is “a white powder consisting of calcium hypochlorite, used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a white powder that is a mixture of calcium hydroxide and calcium hypochlorite and is used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.”
Associations
Bleaching powder is commonly associated with the textile industry, where it is used to bleach cotton and other fabrics. It is also used in the paper industry to bleach wood pulp and in water treatment to disinfect drinking water. In households, bleaching powder is used as a cleaning agent and to disinfect surfaces.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of bleaching powder include calcium hypochlorite, chlorinated lime, and chloride of lime.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of bleaching powder, but some opposites might include natural dyes (as opposed to bleached fabrics) and organic cleaning products (as opposed to chemical disinfectants).
The same root words
The root words of bleaching powder are “bleach” and “powder.” “Bleach” comes from the Old English word “blǣcan,” which means “to whiten.” “Powder” comes from the Old French word “poudre,” which means “dust.”
Example Sentences
- The textile factory uses bleaching powder to whiten cotton fabric.
- The swimming pool was treated with bleaching powder to kill bacteria.
- I spilled red wine on my white shirt, so I used bleaching powder to remove the stain.
- Bleaching powder is not safe to ingest and should be kept out of reach of children.
- The water treatment plant added bleaching powder to the drinking water to disinfect it.