7/22/2012: Bleach

Now everyone is familiar or should be familiar (for those who don't clean) with bleach. Bleach is a chemical known for its cleaning capabilities and its ability to remove pigments or colour from objects, and its disinfectant ability.  Bleaching is a general form and consists of a couple different methods, but in particular I will be talking about the use of Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) being that it is the most popular.  The power of this chemical comes from it's oxidizing ability when it combines with water to make HClO, since it is a molecule of high electronegativity.  The oxidation process goes as follows 2HClO_(aq) + 2H⁺ + 2e^- → Cl_2(g) + 2H₂O . There has also been very extensive research in it's disinfectant process.  The first synthesis performed by Claude Louis Berthollet in 1789 is very simple where it consists of passing chlorine gas through sodium hydroxide: 

Cl_2(g) + 2NaOH _(aq)  → NaCl _(aq) + H₂O _(l)