Which form of chlorine preparation is used to reduce the bacterial residue in water?

Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Community Health Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Explanation

All the options listed are effective forms of chlorine used for water disinfection.
Sodium hypochlorite is a liquid disinfectant, which is commonly sold as household chlorine bleach.
Calcium hypochlorite, also known as bleaching powder or HTH, is a solid form of chlorine (granules or tablets) used for disinfection.
Since Sodium hypochlorite (in the form of chlorine bleach) and Calcium hypochlorite are both correct, the most comprehensive answer is 'All of these'.

Option A: This option is correct, but it is not the only correct option. It represents just one of the forms of chlorine used for water disinfection.
Option B: Chlorine bleach is a common name for a sodium hypochlorite solution. While it is a correct form, it is not the only one listed.
Option C: This option is also correct, but it is incomplete. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is another widely used chlorine preparation.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Water disinfection using chlorine compounds as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding different water purification methods is crucial for community health nurses to advise on safe drinking water, especially during emergencies like floods or outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera.
Nurses must be able to educate the public on how to correctly use household bleach for emergency water disinfection, including the proper concentration and contact time to ensure safety and effectiveness.
What if? If a community has no access to any chemical disinfectants, a nurse should advise that boiling water vigorously for at least one minute is the most reliable method to kill all common pathogens and make it safe to drink.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks about chlorine-based methods for water disinfection.
Review each option individually to determine its validity.
Consider Option A: Is Sodium hypochlorite used for water disinfection? Yes, it is a common liquid disinfectant.
Consider Option B: Is Chlorine bleach used? Yes, this is the common name for a sodium hypochlorite solution.
Consider Option C: Is Calcium hypochlorite used? Yes, it is a common solid disinfectant (bleaching powder).
Since options A, B, and C are all correct and valid methods, the 'All of these' option (D) is the most complete and therefore the best answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q-YGV8Gg-HKxF-7ykB699l

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 128-130

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) pp. 33-35, 32-34