Question

________ is the universal bleaching agent.

Hint:

This oxidising bleach suits almost all fibres and breaks down into water and oxygen.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the term:
Bleaching removes the natural yellowish or grey colour of fibres and gives a clean white base.
A universal bleaching agent is one that is safe for almost all fibres, natural and man-made.

Step 2: Compare common bleaches:
Sodium hypochlorite and bleaching powder work well on cotton, but they harm wool and silk.
Sodium chlorite works on many synthetics, but it releases harmful chlorine dioxide fumes.
Hydrogen peroxide suits cotton, wool, silk, linen, rayon and most synthetics.

Step 3: Why hydrogen peroxide:
It breaks down into water and oxygen, so it leaves no harmful residue.
It gives a stable, permanent white and does little damage to the fibre.
It does not need an anti-chlor wash.

Final Answer:
Hydrogen peroxide is the universal bleaching agent.