Bleaching agent
Bleaching Agent
A Bleaching Agent (pronunciation: /ˈbliːtʃɪŋ ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/) is a substance that can whiten or decolorize substances. They are often used in various industries such as textile, paper, and in the field of dentistry for teeth whitening.
Etymology
The term "bleaching agent" is derived from the Old English word "blǣcan", which means "to whiten". The word "agent" comes from the Latin word "agens", which means "a person or thing that acts or does an action".
Types of Bleaching Agents
There are several types of bleaching agents, including:
- Chlorine-based bleaching agents: These are the most common type of bleaching agents and include substances like sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.
- Oxygen-based bleaching agents: These include hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate.
- Sulfur dioxide-based bleaching agents: These are often used in the food industry to preserve the color of dried fruits and vegetables.
Related Terms
- Oxidation: A chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons from one substance to another. Bleaching agents often work by oxidizing the substances they are applied to, which leads to a loss of color.
- Reduction: The opposite of oxidation, reduction involves the gaining of electrons. Some bleaching agents work by reducing the substances they are applied to, which can also lead to a loss of color.
- Disinfectant: Many bleaching agents also have disinfectant properties, meaning they can kill bacteria and other microorganisms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bleaching agent
- Wikipedia's article - Bleaching agent
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski