Question

Which among the following is used as an oxidizing agent to bleach wood pulp into white paper?

• A. Mn(OH)\(_2\)
• B. Cl\(_2\)
• C. H\(_2\)O\(_2\)
• D. NaOCl

Hint:

In paper bleaching, chlorine is often preferred due to its strong oxidizing properties.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Bleaching of wood pulp.
To bleach wood pulp into white paper, a strong oxidizing agent is required. Chlorine (Cl\(_2\)) is commonly used in the paper industry for this purpose.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Mn(OH)\(_2\): This is not used for bleaching purposes.
(B) Cl\(_2\): Correct — Chlorine is an effective oxidizing agent used to bleach wood pulp.
(C) H\(_2\)O\(_2\): Hydrogen peroxide is also used for bleaching but is less common compared to chlorine.
(D) NaOCl: Sodium hypochlorite is used for bleaching, but chlorine gas (Cl\(_2\)) is the more traditional oxidizer.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) Cl\(_2\), as chlorine is the primary oxidizing agent used to bleach wood pulp.