Bleaching damp litmus paper indicates the presence of which gas?

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Study for the IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Bleaching damp litmus paper indicates the presence of which gas?

Explanation:
Bleaching damp litmus paper is a telltale sign of chlorine gas. When chlorine dissolves in the moisture on the paper, it forms hypochlorous acid (and HCl) via Cl2 + H2O ⇌ HCl + HOCl. HOCl is a powerful bleaching agent, so it removes the colour from damp litmus, turning blue litmus paper white. The other gases don’t produce this bleaching effect: hydrogen and oxygen don’t bleach damp litmus, and ammonia would make litmus blue (because it’s basic) rather than bleach it.

Bleaching damp litmus paper is a telltale sign of chlorine gas. When chlorine dissolves in the moisture on the paper, it forms hypochlorous acid (and HCl) via Cl2 + H2O ⇌ HCl + HOCl. HOCl is a powerful bleaching agent, so it removes the colour from damp litmus, turning blue litmus paper white. The other gases don’t produce this bleaching effect: hydrogen and oxygen don’t bleach damp litmus, and ammonia would make litmus blue (because it’s basic) rather than bleach it.

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