From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia   (Redirected from Bleach
(chemical)) Jump to: navigation, search   The bleaching process
has been known for millennia,[1] but the chemicals currently
used for bleaching resulted from the work of several 18th
century scientists. Chlorine is the basis for the most commonly
used bleaches, for example, the solution of sodium hypochlorite,
which is so ubiquitous that most simply call it "bleach", and
calcium hypochlorite, the major compound in "bleaching powder".
Oxidizing bleaching agents that do not contain chlorine most
often are based on peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium
percarbonate and sodium perborate. While most bleaches are
oxidizing agents, some are reducing agents such as sodium
dithionite and sodium borohydride.  Bleaches are used as
household chemicals to whiten clothes and remove stains and as
disinfectants, primarily in the bathroom and kitchen. Many
bleaches have strong bactericidal properties, and are used for
disinfecting and sterilizing and thus