ncs-NSDL-COLLECTION-000-003-112-021
This site is another great offering from HowStufffWorks.com that answers questions about chlorine on their Question of the Day page. It discusses how chlorine removes stains, whether chlorine bleach is the same as chlorine in drinking water and swimming pools, and if it's safe to use.
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| Subject keyword(s) | Health, Health -- Consumer health, Health -- Environmental health, Health -- Safety, Life Science, Science, Science -- Chemistry, Science -- Physical sciences |
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| Grade level | High School, Higher Education, Informal Education, Vocational/Professional Development Education |
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| Intended audience | Educator, General Public, Learner, Professional/Practitioner |
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| Resource type | Audio/Visual, Collection, Reference Material, Text |
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| Resource format | text, text/html |
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| Rights | HowStuffWorks, Inc. |
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| Title | AMSER: Applied Math and Science Education Repository |
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| Link | http://amser.org/ |
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| Description | AMSER (Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for those in community and technical colleges, but free for anyone to use. AMSER is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the National Science Digital Library, and is being created by a team of project partners led by Internet Scout. |
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Content contained within the resource
Adventure Auto Culture Entertainment Home & Garden Money Science Tech Video Shows Blogs Quizzes Games Random Article Engineering Environmental Science Forces of Nature Innovation Military Physical Science Science Dictionary Science Versus Myth Space Transportation Home > Science > Physical Science > Chemistry > Chemical Compounds How does chlorine bleach work? Print Cite This! Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article: "How does chlorine bleach work?" 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. 03 February 2012. Cite Feedback Chlorine itself is a gas at room temperature. Ordinary table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) is half chlorine, and a simple electrochemical reaction with salt water produces chlorine gas easily. That same reaction produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and by mixing chlorine gas with sodium hydroxide you create sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). When you buy a gallon of bleach at the grocery store, what you are buying is the chemical sodium hypochlorite mixed with water in a 5.25-percent solution. You're buying salt water that has been changed slightly by electricity. Chlorine is chlorine, so the chlorine in bleach is the same as the chlorine in drinking water and in a swimming pool. In fact, you can use chlorine bleach to treat a swimming pool or to treat drinking water. A gallon of bleach provides 1 part per million (PPM) of chlorine to 60,000 gallons (about 250,000 liters) of water. Typically, a pool is treated at a rate of 3 PPM, and drinking water is treated at anywhere from 0.2 PPM to 3 PPM depending on the level of contamination and the contact time. Chlorine is used in pools and drinking water because it is a great disinfectant. It is able to kill bacteria and algae, among other things. Chlorine also makes a great stain remover, but not because of the chlorine itself. Natural stains (as well as dyes) produced by everything from mildew to grass come from chemical compounds called chromophores. Chromophores can absorb light at specific wavelengths and therefore cause colors. When chlorine reacts with water, it produces hydrochloric acid and atomic oxygen. The oxygen reacts easily with the chromophores to eliminate the portion of its structure that causes the color. There has been a lot of discussion about the safety of chlorine in drinking water. It's not clear how safe or unsafe chlorine is, especially in PPM concentrations. But two things are clear: It's a whole lot safer to drink chlorinated water than water contaminated with disease-causing bacteria. Millions of people have died from water-borne diseases, and these diseases are largely eliminated in modern water systems through the use of chlorine. If you are worried about the chlorine in your water, all you have to do is let the water stand for a day or two in a loosely covered container in your refrigerator and the chlorine is eliminated. These links will help you learn more: How Sewer and Septic Systems Work How does chlorine work to clean swimming pools? What is dioxin? Clorox.com The Sodium Hypochlorite Story Chlorine Stress Cracking - in jewelery Treatment Systems for Household Water Supplies: Chlorination What really kills those germs? VIDEO: Check out amazing videos exploring the chemistry of innovations. » All Things Science 10 Incredible Wind Power Facts 10 Remarkable Exoplanets Fact or Fiction: Earthquake Quiz Top 10 Things That Women Invented Get in Touch With the Dark Arts Watch 100 Greatest Discoveries videos » You Might Also Like How Luminol Works Have you seen investigators on crime shows who spray some stuff on a "clean" carpet and suddenly -- blood stains! Well, of all the fictional technology on TV, it turns out this stuff is real! Find out how luminol reveals the blood. What if I put aluminum foil in the microwave? We've all been told not to put aluminum foil in the microwave. Stories of incredible explosions and fires are usually at the center of these ominous warnings. Why is that? Popular Articles Astatine Vanadium Dust Explosion Video Favorites Robot Videos Extreme Engineering Videos 10 Ways The World Will End Videos Space Station Videos New HSW Games Storm Tracker Speed Match Crab Fishing Game Volcano Explorer Lost in Migration Word Bubbles Related Content Prices: Chlorine Bleach Cleaners Tide Ultra Detergent With Bleach, 95 Loads, Original Scent Whitens whites while using active enzymes to break down and help remove stains Quick-dissolving formula immediately starts dissolving even in cold water. Non-chlorine, oxygen-based bleach and a unique bleach-activating system provides effective, color-safe bleaching performance and leaves clothes virtually residue-free. Reduces chlorine in the wash to help keep your colors from fading. Concentrated with more stain-fighting power so you can use 1/3 less. Moisture-resistant carton means no worry about clumping. Item part of Cleaners & Disinfectants in cleaning and breakroom supplies. Tide Ultra Detergent With Bleach, 95 Loads, Original Scent is one of many Dish & Laundry Detergent available through Office Depot. Made by Tide. $54.49 Diversey Box of Dry Chlorine Bleach, 2 Ounces DRK2979646 Diversey DRK2979646 Removes stains and brightens whites. Designed for the vending opportunities in laundromats and guest amenities. Single-use. ~ Includes one-hundred 2 ounce boxes per case. $44.72 Clorox 2 Chlorine Free Bleach for Colors (case of 154) 2 oz travel size laundry detergent in box. 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