Chlorine

Chlorine

Chlorine is a single substance formed by the chlorine element, with the chemical formula Cl2. It is a yellow-green, highly toxic gas with a strong pungent odor at room temperature and pressure. It is suffocating and has a higher density than air. Melting point -101.00℃, boiling point -34℃. It is soluble in water and alkaline solutions, easily soluble in organic solvents, and difficult to dissolve in saturated salt water. It is easily compressed and can be liquefied into yellow-green oily liquid chlorine.

When the volume fraction of hydrogen mixed in chlorine is more than 5%, it may explode when exposed to strong light. Chlorine is toxic and mainly invades the human body through the respiratory tract and dissolves in the moisture contained in the mucous membrane, causing damage to the upper respiratory tract mucosa. Chlorine is one of the main products of the chlor-alkali industry. It can undergo substitution and addition reactions with organic and inorganic substances to produce a variety of chlorides, and can also be used as a strong oxidant. It is mainly used in the production of plastics (such as PVC), synthetic fibers, fuels, pesticides, disinfectants, bleaches and various chlorides.

Chlorine in nature mostly exists in the form of Cl ions in minerals or seawater. A small amount of chlorine also exists in the atmosphere as free ions. However, the chlorine gas at this time is often decomposed into two chlorine atoms (free radicals) by ultraviolet rays. Chlorine gas is also one of the main elements that destroy the ozone layer.