INTRODUCTION
Need of water
Water is an important and essential ingredient in our
quest for survival on this planet. It is very essential for
carrying out various metabolic processes in our body and
also t carry out Hemoglobin throughout the body .
[Link] Human Life:
• Drinking & Hydration: Water is necessary to keep the
body hydrated and maintain bodily functions.
• Digestion & Metabolism: It helps in breaking down
food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.
• Temperature Regulation: Water helps control body
temperature through sweating and respiration.
• Blood Circulation & Oxygen Transport: It is a major
component of blood, carrying oxygen and nutrients
throughout the body.
[Link] Plants & Animals:
• Plant Growth: Plants need water for photosynthesis
and nutrient absorption.
• Animal Survival: Animals rely on water for drinking,
cooling, and metabolic processes.
Purification of water
Purifying water is essential to remove impurities, harmful
microorganisms, and contaminants. Here are some
common methods of water purification:
[Link]
• One of the simplest and most effective methods.
• Kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
• Requires heating water for at least 5-10 minutes.
[Link]
• Uses physical barriers to remove impurities.
• Types of filters:
o Activated Carbon Filters: Remove chlorine, odor,
and some chemicals.
o Ceramic Filters: Block bacteria and sediments.
o Reverse Osmosis (RO): Removes dissolved salts,
heavy metals, and contaminants.
3. Chlorination
• Adding chlorine tablets or liquid to kill bacteria and
viruses.
• Commonly used for large-scale water purification.
• Needs proper dosage, as excess chlorine can be
harmful.
4. Distillation
• Involves boiling water and collecting the condensed
steam.
• Removes most impurities, including heavy metals and
microbes.
• Energy-intensive process.
5. UV Purification
• Uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria and viruses.
• Effective but does not remove dissolved chemicals or
heavy metals.
6. Coagulation and Sedimentation
• Chemicals like alum are added to water to make
impurities clump together.
• These particles settle at the bottom and are removed.
• Common in large-scale water treatment plants.
7. Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS)
• Uses sunlight to kill bacteria and viruses.
• Water is placed in clear plastic bottles and exposed to
sunlight for 6-8 hours.
Each method has its advantages and is chosen based on
the quality of water and available resources.
Need for a stable purification technique
Therefore we need a purification technique which can be
used anytime and anywhere, does not require the use of
any third party content and which is also economically
feasible on both normal scale and large scale.
Hence we look at the method of purification of water
using the technique of treatment by bleaching powder
commonly known as "Chlorination"
THEORY
History of Water Purification in Different Parts of
the World
Water purification has been practiced for centuries to
ensure safe drinking water. Different civilizations
developed unique methods based on their environment
and knowledge.
1. Ancient Egypt (c. 2000 BCE)
• The earliest recorded water treatment methods appear
in Egyptian texts.
• Egyptians used alum (a coagulant) to settle impurities
in water.
2. Ancient India (c. 2000 BСЕ -500 BCE)
• Ancient Hindu scriptures like the Sushruta Samhita
mention boiling water, exposing it to sunlight, and
filtering it through sand and charcoal.
• Copper vessels were used for storage, as copper has
antibacterial properties.
3. Ancient Greece (c. 500 BCE)
• Greek scientist Hippocrates designed the Hippocratic
Sleeve, a cloth bag used to filter water.
4. Roman Empire (c. 300 ВСЕ -500 CE)
• Romans built extensive aqueducts and water
distribution systems.
• They used sedimentation tanks to remove large
impurities before water was delivered to homes and
public baths.
• Sand filtration was also used.
5. Medieval Islamic Civilization (с. 700 - 1400
CE)
• Scholars like Al-Razi and Ibn Sina described boiling and
filtering water for purification.
• Zamzam well water in Mecca was naturally purified
using underground filtration.
6. China (c. 1500 CE - Present)
• Early Chinese records mention boiling water and using
ceramic or bamboo filters.
• During the Ming Dynasty, porcelain filters became
popular for water purification.
Bleaching Powder: Definition and Preparation
What is Bleaching Powder?
• Chemical Name: Calcium Oxychloride (CaOCI₂)
• Appearance: White or pale yellow powder with a
strong chlorine smell
• Uses: Disinfection, water purification, bleaching
textiles and paper, and sanitation.
Preparation of Bleaching Powder
Bleaching powder is produced by the reaction of chlorine
gas (CI₂) with dry slaked lime (Ca(OH)2). The chemical
reaction is: Ca(OH)2 + Cl2 → CaOCl2 + H2
Manufacturing Process
1. Slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) is spread in a chamber.
2. Chlorine gas (Cl₂) is passed through the chamber.
3. A chemical reaction occurs, forming bleaching powder
(CaOCI₂).
4. The product is dried and packed in airtight containers
to prevent decomposition.
Steps to Sterilize Water with Bleaching
Powder:
1. Dissolve the Bleaching Powder
• Take 1 gram of bleaching powder and dissolve it in 1
liter of water to prepare a chlorine solution.
• Stir well and let it settle for a few minutes.
2. Filter the Solution (Optional)
• If needed, filter the solution through a cloth to remove
undissolved particles.
3. Add the Solution to Water
• For 1000 liters of water, add about 1 liter of the
prepared bleaching powder solution.
• Stir well and leave the water3. Add the Solution to
Water
• For 1000 liters of water, add about 1 liter of the
prepared bleaching powder solution.
• Stir well and leave the water undisturbed for 30
minutes to allow chlorine to act.
4. Check for Residual Chlorine
• The water should have a faint chlorine smell. If it is too
strong, allow the water to stand for some time before
use.
Chemical Reaction in Water:
CaOCl₂ + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + Cl₂
Precautions:
• Do not exceed the required amount, as excess chlorine
can be harmful.
• Store bleaching powder in a dry, airtight container to
prevent decomposition.
• Use fresh bleaching powder, as it loses effectiveness
over time.
This method is widely used in water treatment plants,
households, and emergency sanitation to ensure safe
drinking water.
EXPERIMENT
Aim: To Determine the dosage of bleaching powder
required for sterilization or disinfection of different
samples of water.
Requirements: Burette, titration flask, 100ml graduated
cylinder, 250ml measuring flask, weight box, glazed tile,
glass wool.
Bleaching Powder, Glass wool, 0.1 N Na2S2O3 solution,
10% KI solution, different samples of water, starch
solution.
Pre-Requisite Knowledge:
1. A known mass of the given sample of bleaching
powder is dissolved in water to prepare a solution of
known concentration. This solution contains dissolved
chlorine, liberated by the action of bleaching powder with
water.
CaOCl2+H2O → Ca(OH)2+Cl2
2. The amount of Chlorine present in the above solution is
determined by treating a known volume of the above
solution with excess of 10% potassium iodide solution,
when equivalent amount of iodine is liberated. The Iodine,
thus liberated is then estimated by titrating it against a
standard solution of Sodium thiosulphate, using starch
solution as indicator.
Cl₂ + 2KI → 2KCl + I₂
2Na₂S₂O₃ + I₂ → Na₂S₄O₆ + 2NaI
3. A known Volume of one of the given samples of water
is treated with a known volume of bleaching powder
solution. The amount of residual chlorine is determined
by adding excess potassium iodide solution and then
titrating against standard sodium thiosulphate solution.
4. From the readings in 2 and 3, the amount of chlorine
and hence bleaching powder required for the disinfection
of a given volume of the given sample of water can be
calculated.
Procedure:
1. Preparation of bleaching powder solution. Weigh
accurately 2.5g of the given sample of bleaching powder
and transfer it to a 250ml conical flask. Add about 100-
150ml of distilled water. Stopper the flask and shake it
vigorously. The suspension thus obtained is filtered
through glass wool and the filtrate is diluted with water
(in a measuring flask) to make the volume 250ml. The
solution obtained is 1% bleaching powder solution.
2. Take 20ml of bleaching powder solution in a stoppered
conical flask and add it to 20ml of 10% KI solution.
Stopper the flask and shake it vigorously. Titrate this
solution against 0.1N Na2S2O3 solution taken in the
burette. When the solution in the conical flask becomes
light yellow in color, add about 2ml starch solution. The
solution now becomes blue in color. Continue titrating till
the blue color just disappears. Repeat the titration to get
a set of three concordant readings.
3. Take 100ml of the water sample in a 250ml stoppered
conical flask and add it to 10ml of bleaching powder
solution. Then add 20ml of KI solution and stopper the
flask. Shake vigorously and titrate against 0.1N Na2S2O3
solution using starch solution as indicator as described in
step 2.
4. Repeat the step 3 with other samples of water and
record the observations.
RESULT
Amount of the given sample of bleaching powder
required to disinfect one litre of water
Sample I=.........g
Sample II=.........g
Sample III=.........g