The real bleaching agent present in bleaching powder is

Options

A. chlorine
B. oxygen
C. CaO
D. none of the above

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Bleaching Agents:**
- Bleaching agents are substances that are used to remove color from materials. They work by oxidizing the colored compounds, which leads to the decolorization of the material.

2. **Identifying Bleaching Powder:**
- Bleaching powder is a chemical compound with the formula \( \text{Ca(OCl)}_2 \), also known as calcium oxychloride.

3. **Composition of Bleaching Powder:**
- Bleaching powder is a mixed salt of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hypochlorous acid (HClO). This composition is crucial for understanding how it functions as a bleaching agent.

4. **Reaction with Dilute Acids:**
- When bleaching powder reacts with a small amount of dilute hydrochloric acid, it releases oxygen, which acts as an oxidizing agent. This is one of the ways it can bleach materials.

5. **Excess Acid Reaction:**
- If there is an excess of dilute hydrochloric acid present, the reaction produces chlorine gas. Chlorine is a potent bleaching agent and is responsible for the bleaching action in this scenario.

6. **Conclusion:**
- The real bleaching agent present in bleaching powder is chlorine gas. Therefore, the answer to the question is chlorine.

**Final Answer:**
The real bleaching agent present in bleaching powder is chlorine.

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