Explain the bleaching action of Chlorine .

Explanation

Oxidising and bleaching action : Chlorine is a strong oxidising and bleaching agent because of the nascent oxygen.
`H_(2)O+Cl_(2)rarr HCl+underset("Hypo chlorous acid")(HOCl)`
`HOCl rarr HCl +(O)`
Colouring matter + Nascent oxygen `rarr` Colourless oxidation product.
The bleaching of chlorine is permanent . It oxidises ferrous salts to ferric, sulphites to sulphates and hydrogen sulphide to sulphur.
`2FeCl_(2)+Cl_(2) rarr 2FeCl_(3)`
`Cl_(2)+H_(2)O rarr HCl+HOCl`
`2FeSO_(4)+H_(2)SO_(4)+HOCl rarr Fe_(2)(SO_(4))_(3)+HCl+H_(2)O`
Overall reaction
`2FeSO_(4)+H_(2)SO_(4)+Cl_(2) rarr Fe_(2)(SO_(4))_(3)+2HCl`
`Cl_(2)+H_(2)O rarr HCl+HOCl`
`Na_(2)SO_(3)+HOCl rarr Na_(2)SO_(4)+HCl`
Overall reaction
`Na_(2)SO_(3)+H_(2)O+Cl_(2) rarr Na_(2)SO_(4)+2HCl`
`Cl_(2)+H_(2)S rarr 2HCl +S`