Research topic: Javelle water

Javelle water or Javel water , Fr. eau de Javelle, aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hypochlorite. It was originally made near the French town of Javelle (now part of Paris) and was the first chemical bleach, a use first demonstrated by C. L. Berthollet in 1785. It was produced by passing chlorine gas through a water solution of potash ( potassium carbonate ). After the invention of bleaching powder Javelle water was sometimes produced by reacting the bleaching powder with potash or soda ash ( sodium carbonate ). Now usually sodium hypochlorite solution, it is used in bleaching... Read more