Chemistry
The process of bleaching can be summarized in the following set of chemical reactions:
Cl2(aq) + H2O(l) H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + HClO(aq)
The H+ ion of the hypochlorous acid then dissolves into solution, and so the final result is effectively:
Cl2(aq) + H2O(l) 2H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + ClO-(aq)
Hypochlorite tends to decompose into chloride and a highly reactive form of oxygen:
ClO- Cl- + O
This oxygen then reacts with organic substances to produce bleaching or antiseptic effects