Q. What are the various uses of bleaching powder?

Answer

Calcium hypochlorite (CaOCl2) which we commonly know as bleaching powder has a lot of uses including, as disinfectant and germicide. Bleaching powder is especially used in the sterilization of drinking water. It is extensively used in the textile industry where it is used for bleaching silk and wool. Bleaching powder is also used as bleaching agent for cotton, linen and wood pulp and also for manufacturing of chloroform. Since it has oxidizing properties, it is used as an oxidising agent in many chemical industries to obtain various chemical products.