Preparation of Bleaching Powder

Bleaching powder, also known as chloride of lime or calcium hypochlorite, is prepared by the reaction of calcium hydroxide (also known as slaked lime) with chlorine gas. The chemical equation for this reaction is:

Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → Ca(OCl)2 + H2O

The reaction is typically carried out in a reactor vessel equipped with a stirring mechanism and a gas inlet for the chlorine. The temperature of the reaction is maintained at around 60-70°C, and the reaction is usually complete within 1-2 hours. The resulting product is a white powder that contains around 35% available chlorine.