Water is often referred to as the "elixir of life" because it is essential for
all known forms of life. Approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is
covered with water, yet only about 1% of it is available as fresh, usable
water for human consumption. In many developing and
underdeveloped countries, a large proportion of the population does not
have access to clean drinking water. Contaminated water is one of the
leading causes of severe health problems, including cholera, typhoid,
dysentery, and hepatitis, which result from the consumption of water
containing harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
Given the critical importance of access to safe drinking water, various
water purification methods are employed across the world. These
include boiling, filtration, UV treatment, and chemical disinfection.
Among these, chemical disinfection using bleaching powder is widely
used, especially in rural areas and during emergencies like floods,
epidemics, and natural disasters. It is preferred because of its low cost,
high efficiency, and ease of handling.
Bleaching powder, chemically known as calcium oxychloride
(Ca(OCl)₂), is a white powder with a strong chlorine smell. It is
extensively used in the disinfection of water because it releases
chlorine, which acts as a powerful oxidizing agent capable of
destroying most pathogenic microorganisms. Its use is simple: a
measured amount of bleaching powder is added to contaminated water,
and after a contact period of about 30 minutes, the water becomes safe
for consumption.
The importance of understanding the correct dosage and effectiveness
of bleaching powder cannot be overstated. If used in excess, it may
leave an unpleasant taste or form harmful by-products. If used
inadequately, it may not kill all the pathogens, thereby posing a health
risk. This project is aimed at demonstrating how bleaching powder can
be used to sterilize water, how much of it is required to disinfect a
specific volume of water, and how we can test for the presence of
residual chlorine to ensure complete sterilization.
This investigatory project not only shows a practical application of
chemistry in everyday life but also contributes to awareness about safe
drinking water practices. The study can be especially useful for school
students, health workers, and communities in regions where waterborne
diseases are prevalent, and access to advanced purification systems is
limited.
AIM
To investigate the sterilization of water using bleaching powder and
determine the minimum effective amount needed to disinfect a given
volume of water.
REQUIREMENTS
- Contaminated water sample (e.g., tap/pond water)
- Bleaching powder (Ca(OCl)₂)
- Beakers (100 ml and 250 ml)
- Measuring cylinder
- Stirring rod
- Funnel and filter paper or cloth
- Litmus or pH paper
- Potassium iodide (KI) solution
- Starch solution
- Distilled water
- Test tubes
- Dropper or burette
THEORY
Bleaching Powder is a white powdery substance with a strong chlorine
smell. Its chemical name is Calcium Oxychloride (Ca(OCl)₂) and it is
commonly used in disinfection, especially for water purification. It is a
cheap and efficient chemical agent that works primarily through the
release of chlorine and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in water.
Chemical Composition and Reactions:
Bleaching powder reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide and
hypochlorous acid:
Ca(OCl)₂ + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + 2HOCl
The hypochlorous acid (HOCl) formed is a strong oxidizing agent. It is
highly effective in killing a wide variety of pathogens such as bacteria,
viruses, and protozoa by:
- Disrupting cell membranes
- Denaturing proteins
- Inhibiting enzyme activity
- Damaging nucleic acids
Additionally, hypochlorous acid exists in equilibrium with hypochlorite
ions:
HOCl ⇌ H⁺ + OCl⁻
The proportion of HOCl and OCl⁻ in water depends on the pH:
- Lower pH (acidic) favors HOCl, which is a stronger disinfectant.
- Higher pH (basic) favors OCl⁻, which is less effective.
Hence, for efficient sterilization, a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5–
7.5) is ideal.
Advantages of Using Bleaching Powder:
- Economical and widely available
- Quick action against most microorganisms
- Easy to transport and store
- Provides residual chlorine that continues to disinfect over time
Limitations:
- Can impart an unpleasant taste if overdosed
- Reacts with organic matter to form harmful by-products (e.g.,
trihalomethanes)
- Requires precise dosing for safe usage
PROCEDURE
1. Collect the Water Sample:
Collect 250 ml of potentially contaminated water from a tap, pond, or
local source.
2. Pre-filtration:
Use a cloth or filter paper to remove large suspended particles.
3. Prepare Bleaching Powder Solution:
Dissolve 1 gram of bleaching powder in 100 ml of distilled water to
make a standard disinfectant solution.
4. Treatment Process:
Divide the water sample into three separate 100 ml beakers. Add
different amounts of bleaching powder solution to each beaker (e.g.,
0.25 ml, 0.5 ml, and 1.0 ml).
5. Mix and Wait:
Stir the contents thoroughly and let the solutions stand undisturbed
for at least 30 minutes.
6. Check for Residual Chlorine:
To test the presence of free chlorine:
- Add a few drops of potassium iodide (KI) and starch solution to
each treated sample.
- A blue coloration indicates the presence of residual chlorine.
- (Paste image of color change test here)
7. Test for pH:
Use litmus or pH paper to ensure that the final treated water is not too
acidic or basic. Ideal pH should be around 6.5–7.5.
- (Paste image of pH test strip result here)
EXPERIMENTS
| Experiment No. | Volume of Water (ml) | Amount of Bleaching
Powder Solution Added (ml) | Waiting Time | Color Change with KI +
Starch | Residual Chlorine Detected? | pH Range |
|----------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------
-----|---------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|---
---------|
|1 | 100 | 1.0 | 30
minutes | Dark Blue | Yes | ~7.0 |
|2 | 100 | 0.5 | 30
minutes | Light Blue | Yes (Less) | ~7.0 |
|3 | 100 | 0.25 | 30
minutes | No Change | No | ~6.8 |
(Paste image of experiment setup here)
CALCULATIONS
From the experiments, it is observed that 0.5 ml of bleaching powder
solution is the minimum amount that shows a slight presence of
residual chlorine for 100 ml of water.
So, for 1 liter (1000 ml) of water:
(0.5 ml / 100 ml) × 1000 ml = 5 ml
Thus, approximately 5 ml of bleaching powder solution is required to
sterilize 1 liter of water effectively.
(Paste image of calculation demonstration or chart here)
RESULT
- Bleaching powder is an effective and economical disinfectant for
sterilizing water.
- A minimum of 5 ml per liter of the prepared bleaching powder
solution is effective for disinfection.
- Presence of residual chlorine (confirmed via KI-starch test) ensures
complete sterilization.
- The ideal contact time is at least 30 minutes before consumption.
(Paste image of final clear water sample here)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. NCERT Chemistry Textbook – Class XI
2. Comprehensive Chemistry Lab Manual – S. Chand Publications
3. WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality
4. "Water Disinfection Using Chlorine," Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/
calcium-hypochlorite
6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
