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Bleach is a chemical used to whiten or remove the natural color from fibers, yarns, textiles, and paper. It's also used as a disinfectant due to its microbicidal properties. Historically, sunlight was the primary bleaching agent until chlorine was discovered in 1774. Later, bleaching powder, a combination of chlorine and slaked lime, became common. Today, liquefied chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide are widely used. Different materials require specific bleaching agents; for instance, cotton is often bleached with hydrogen peroxide, while wood and animal fibers use acidic reducing agents like sulfur dioxide. Optical bleaches, which emit a bluish-white light, are not true bleaches. Dilute sodium hypochlorite solutions are used for sanitizing food-processing equipment, and stronger solutions are used in settings like hospitals for disinfection.1

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