Bleach

Bleach is a chemical product that lightens materials or removes stains by breaking down colored compounds, often through oxidation. Common household bleaches use sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide.

Sodium hypochlorite: An inorganic compound used as the active ingredient in many liquid household bleaches. It is the principal active ingredient in chlorine-based household bleach.
Sodium carbonate: An alkaline sodium salt used in cleaning products and water softening. Washing soda boosts alkalinity and cleaning in some oxygen-bleach formulations.
Laundry: The washing and care of clothing and other washable textiles. Laundry bleach brightens whites and targets stains, but can damage colored or delicate fabrics.
Color stripping: The removal of dye from a material using chemicals that dissolve or chemically alter the colorant. Color stripping targets dyes by methods that need not rely on oxidative bleaching.
Chlorine gas poisoning: Injury caused by inhaling chlorine gas, which irritates and damages the respiratory tract. Mixing hypochlorite bleach with acids can release chlorine gas and cause severe poisoning.
Hydrogen peroxide: A chemical compound that releases oxygen and acts as an oxidizing agent and bleaching agent. It provides an oxygen-based alternative to hypochlorite for whitening and stain removal.
Sodium percarbonate: A solid compound that releases hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water. It is a common solid oxygen-bleach ingredient in laundry products.
Disinfection: The process of inactivating many disease-causing microorganisms on surfaces or objects. Diluted hypochlorite products disinfect suitable surfaces as well as remove stains.
Optical brightener: A fluorescent compound that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits blue light, making materials appear whiter. Brighteners make fabric look whiter without chemically destroying its stains or pigments.
Chloramine: A group of compounds formed when chlorine reacts with ammonia or related nitrogen compounds. Mixing bleach with ammonia can produce toxic chloramine vapors.

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