It was suggested in a recent E-mail that Chlorine gas would be evolved if
Hydrogen Peroxide was mixed with bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) NaOCl.
This is not true. Chlorine gas will only be evolved when the naturally
alkaline bleach is acidified. In actual fact when bleach is mixed with
Hydrogen Peroxide the Oxygen of the NaOCl and the oxygen of the Hydrogen
Peroxide join together to give oxygen molecules and the sodium
hypochlorite reverts to common salt (NaCl) and the Hydrogen Peroxide H2O2
reverts to water H2O. The reaction equation would read as follows:-
NaOCl + H2O2 = NaCl + H2O + O2 (evolved)
Stanley Francis