Chlorine.
General Info.
Chlorine is without a doubt the most commonly used of the halogens; it's actually a house-hold
name. Chlorine is mainly found as salt in sea-water and inland salt-water lakes. It is
manufactured from the electrolysis of Brine (salt-water) and exists in the free-state as a
dark green gas. It is an irritant (like all of the halogens) and is fatal with prolonged
exposure.
Chlorine was first isolated in 1774 by William Sheele in Sweeden.
Properties.
Chlorine is the second most reactive halogen, after Flourine, but still quite happily oxidises
most organic matter, though not as explosively as flourine does. The reactivity of chlorine and
flourine cause them to oxidise ozone, a problem which has, quite rightly, caused a distinct
reduction in thier commercial use.
Uses.
Chlorine is a very widely used chemical; it is used somewhere in the manufacture of
just about everything. It's most famous usage is in Bleach, or in swimming pools as a
disinfectant, but it's also used in X-ray film, pharmaceuticals, blood and IV-bags, bullet-
proof vests, protective helmets, shields and face-masks, seatbelts, airbags, house-paint,
concrete, fibre-glass, insulation, carpeting, PVC, and, perhaps less popularly, as a deadly gas
in World War I. Wherever you go, you will use or live in something
that couldn't exist without Chlorine.
Without it, you'd be dead.
Return to Intro