Chemical products are widely used for many household tasks.
The use of chemical products also has some side effects. The product that we use daily is usually harmful to our health. In other words, some of the chemicals are not good for our health and may cause different types of diseases in the future. One of the chemicals that we often use is chlorine bleach, which is used to clean many things such as dishes, clothes, utensils, and etc.
Bleach, a substance made from sodium hypochlorite, is also used to remove dirt and other organic substances from various surfaces. These substances are removed from the surface by using a chemical reaction.
In this reaction, bleach will combine with these substances and then be washed away. There are different types of bleach that we can use. One of them is chlorine bleach which is used to clean most surfaces and is relatively cheap in price.
But what are the differences between chlorine bleach and regular bleach? How can we tell the difference between these two?
What are the effects of each type of bleach on our health? This article will answer these questions and more. We will also discuss the use of chlorine bleach, its side effects, the types of bleach that are available in the market, and how chlorine and bleach can affect our health and the environment.
Summary Table
| Chlorine | Bleach |
| A chemical element which has two electrons in its outer shell | A type of chemical compound used to disinfect the environment |
| More harmful for the human body, one of the main reasons for more allergies, skin problems, hair loss and eye damage | Less harmful for the human body |
| Kill bacteria faster than regular bleach | Does not kill bacteria as fast as chlorine bleach |
Definitions
What is Bleach?
Bleach is a type of chemical compound used to disinfect the environment. It is made up of three main ingredients: hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite and other chemicals. The chemical compound is an oxidizer, which means it can eliminate the bacteria and microbes that are causing infection in the water or soil.
Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid that is produced naturally by many plants and animals.
It is used as a disinfectant for household cleaning purposes. The chemical compound can be used to bleach textiles, fabrics, wood and other materials. Bleach can also be found in some food products such as powdered drinks and powdered milk.
Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical compound that is made up of chlorine and oxygen. It can be used to bleach the water in swimming pools, drains, and toilets. Sodium hypochlorite is also found in household cleaners such as liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, and bathroom cleaners.
Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite are also used in medical practices to treat certain diseases such as bacterial infections. They are also used in food production, paper manufacturing, pet care products, chemical industries and others.
What is Chlorine?
Chlorine is a chemical element which has two electrons in its outer shell. It has the atomic number of 17 and the symbol Cl. Chlorine was discovered by the German chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774. The element was named after the Greek word chloros, meaning greenish-yellow. Chlorine is used as a disinfectant, oxidizer, and catalyst. It can be found in the air we breathe, food and water, and also it is found in nature as well.
Chlorine bleach has two forms: liquid chlorine (Cl 2 ) and solid chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ). Liquid chlorine is clear and colorless, while solid chlorine dioxide is white or yellowish.
How Does Chlorine Bleach Work?
Chlorine bleach kills bacteria by destroying their cell walls. It also helps in disinfecting water by removing the organic matter that may cause disease. It removes food-borne pathogens and mold.
Chlorine Vs. Bleach
While chlorine and bleach are both forms of chlorine, they are used for different purposes. To understand better, let’s take a look more at the differences between regular bleach and chlorine bleach.
- The effect on our health
The main difference between chlorine bleach and regular bleach is that chlorine bleach is a lot more toxic than regular bleach. Regular household cleaners are usually made up of ammonia, butyl and ethyl alcohol.
Chlorine bleach is not very good for our health, as it contains a lot of toxic elements. The most harmful elements in chlorine bleach are: sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid and calcium hypochlorite. These three chemicals are highly corrosive and can cause severe damage to our health. Chlorine bleach is one of the main reasons why we are seeing more and more allergies, skin problems, hair loss and eye damage in people these days.
- The effect on our environment
While chlorine bleach is very harmful to our health, it is also very harmful to our environment. Chlorine bleach can easily pollute the water and air in our surroundings. These substances include dioxins, furans and chlorofluorocarbons. Regular bleach can also affect our environment. But, the chlorine in regular bleach is not as harmful as the chlorine in chlorine bleach.
- The purposes of each bleach
Regular bleach is used to disinfect our clothes, the home and food. The purpose of chlorine bleach is disinfecting, bleaching and deodorizing. The main difference between these two is that regular bleach does not kill bacteria as fast as chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach can also be used to kill germs on our food and surfaces.
- The type of bleach available in the market
While regular bleach is the more popular form of bleach, chlorine bleach is also available in the market. However, it is not as common as regular bleach. Chlorine bleach can be bought at most grocery stores and hardware stores. There are also many places where you can buy chlorine bleaches online.
