Difference Between Oxygen Bleach and Chlorine Bleach

The key difference between oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach is that the oxygen bleach contains sodium percarbonate as the active agent whereas the chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite as the active agent. Moreover, oxygen bleach is color-safe but, chlorine bleach may remove the actual color of the clothes.

The name bleach refers to any chemical compound that is useful to whiten clothes, lighten hair color and to remove stains. There are mainly two types of bleaching compounds as chlorine-based bleaching agents and non-chlorine bleach according to the active agent present in these bleach. Non-chlorine bleach often refers to oxygen bleach. These are “color-safe” bleaching agents because they can remove the stain without removing the actual color of a cloth. Let us discuss more details on them.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Oxygen Bleach
3. What is Chlorine Bleach
4. Side by Side Comparison – Oxygen Bleach vs Chlorine Bleach in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Oxygen Bleach?

Oxygen bleach is any non-chlorine bleach that has sodium percarbonate as the active agent. It is very useful on occasions where we need to remove stains on clothes without removing the actual color of the cloth. Therefore these bleaching compounds are color-safe. Moreover, it is eco-friendly. Sodium percarbonate is a compound of natural soda crystals and hydrogen peroxide.

Therefore, this form of bleach is common in many detergents and other cleaning agents. It is commercially available as a solid powder. We have to dissolve this powder in water before using. When we dissolve this compound in water, it releases oxygen. These oxygen bubbles help to break down dirt particles, germs, etc. The only byproduct of this compound is soda ash which is non-toxic and safe.

What is Chlorine Bleach?

Chlorine bleach is any chlorine-containing bleach that has sodium hypochlorite as the active agent. Sdium hypochlorite releases chlorine gas which is useful in the cleaning purpose. This bleach is commercially available as a liquid; sodium hypochlorite in water. We can find this compound included commonly in laundry bleach.

Figure 01: Clorox is a Chlorine Bleach

However, it may remove the actual color of the cloth as well, hence we have to use this bleach for white clothes. Also, this bleach is used as a disinfectant.

What is the Difference Between Oxygen Bleach and Chlorine Bleach?

Oxygen bleach is any non-chlorine bleach that has sodium percarbonate as the active agent. It is commercially available as a solid powder. Moreover, is color-safe and removes dirt particles, stain, germs in clothes without harming the actual color of the cloth. Chlorine bleach is any chlorine-containing bleach that has sodium hypochlorite as the active agent. It is commercially available as a liquid. In addition, it may remove the actual color of the cloth as well. This is the key difference between oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach.

Summary – Oxygen Bleach vs Chlorine Bleach

Bleaching agents are chemical compounds that we use in the household for cleaning purposes. There are two main types of bleach as chlorine bleach and non-chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach. The difference between oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach is that the oxygen bleach contains sodium percarbonate whereas the chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite.

Reference:

1. “What Is Oxygen Bleach Powder & How to Use It.” Cleanipedia. Available here 
2. “Bleach.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 July 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.’Clorox Bleach products’By Adina Firestone – IMG_7066 (1), (C BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia 

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