Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

If I pour clorox on some news paper will it remove the ink

Hi:

Here is paper that discusses bleaching paper among other things using chlorine and hydrogen peroxide based bleaches:

http://portal.acs.org/preview/fileFetch ... 005623.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleaching_of_wood_pulp

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles10/pa ... ng-9.shtml

So the answer is yes, Clorox should bleach paper, but the reaction can take take more than five hours at rather warm temperatures. Hypochlorite was the original bleach used in paper making, but today is less frequently used. Instead chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide are preferred in most circumstances.

So while you could use hypochlorite (Clorox) to beach paper, you would probably not be very satisfied. The reaction s will be slow and require the bleaching solution to be heated, and not all colorants in the paper may be destroyed..

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson