Shocker: The Pool Cleaner
By: Will Soghikian
Photographs
Prior to construction! A photograph of all of my materials.
Photographs
During construction! A photograph of myself and my mole being constructed.
Photographs
Finished Product! A photograph of my finished mole; "Shocker!"
My Mole Name & Explanation
I decided to name my Mole "Shocker". At first this may seem like an odd name that has nothing to do with the compound name. Calcium Hypochlorite is used in pools, and we will go into more detail later with this. But this compound is used to clean pools. A blanket term for all pool cleaners is "shock". So knowing that pool cleaners are known as "shock" I decided to name my mole "shocker" a pool cleaning mole! My mole has the theme of a mole that is swimming in the pool. He has his swim trunks on, and a life vest on just in case! He is ready for a day in the pool.
Uses of This Compound
So as stated above Calcium Hypochlorite can be used to clean your pool. Pool owners can put this compound into their pool, and the Calcium Hypochlorite will disinfect the pool of pathogens and any other unwanted bacteria. The compound can not only clean pool water, but it also can clean drinking water. The compound acts the same in drinking water, disinfecting it. Another common use for the compound is as a bleach.
True Story
I use this compound in the summer in large amounts. As you may not know, I have a pool and a hot tub at my house. We use Calcium Hypochlorite throughout the entire summer to keep my pool and hot tub clean! In my pool we use very large tablets of the compound, to shock my pool, and disinfect it. In my hot tub, since it is much smaller, we just use small, sand-like, chunks of it. The Calcium Hypochlorite helps keep my pool and hot tub clean throughout the summer months. It keeps my water clean and disinfected!
Properties of Calcium Hypochlorite
Physical: Calcium Hypochlorite is usually found as a white powder but can also be found in the form of pellets or tablets. The compound has a relatively strong aroma of chlorine. Another physical property of Calcium Hypochlorite is that it has a density of 2.35 grams per centimeter squared.
Chemical: Calcium Hypochlorite can react with Carbon Dioxide to form calcium Carbonate. This reaction will also release dichlorine monoxide, a gas. Calcium Hypochlorite also reacts highly with water. When they react, Calcium hypochlorite decomposes and releases oxygen and chlorine gas.
Works Cited
Photograph: "Pool." Blog Spot. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. <http://2.bp/blogspot.com/-6hUNoevCXdM>
Background Information: "Calcium Hypochlorite." Chemical Book--- Chemical Search Engine. N.P., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. <http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB8854319.htm>.