chlorine

[klawr-een, -in, klohr-]

noun

1. a halogen element, a heavy, greenish-yellow, incombustible, water-soluble, poisonous gas that is highly irritating to the respiratory organs, obtained chiefly by electrolysis of sodium chloride brine: used for water purification, in the making of bleaching powder, and in the manufacture both of chemicals that do not contain chlorine, as ethylene glycol, and of those that do. Cl; 35.453; 17.

chlorine

/ ˈklɔːriːn, ˈklɔːrɪn /

noun

1. a toxic pungent greenish-yellow gas of the halogen group; the 15th most abundant element in the earth's crust, occurring only in the combined state, mainly in common salt: used in the manufacture of many organic chemicals, in water purification, and as a disinfectant and bleaching agent. Symbol: Cl; atomic no: 17; atomic wt: 35.4527; valency: 1, 3, 5, or 7; density: 3.214 kg/m³; relative density: 1.56; melting pt: –101.03°C; boiling pt: –33.9°C

chlorine

1. A greenish-yellow, gaseous element of the halogen group that can combine with most other elements and is found chiefly in combination with the alkali metals as chlorates and chlorides. Chlorine is highly irritating and poisonous. It is used in purifying water, as a disinfectant and bleach, and in the manufacture of numerous chemical compounds. Atomic number 17; atomic weight 35.453; freezing point −100.98°C; boiling point −34.6°C; specific gravity 1.56 (−33.6°C); valence 1, 3, 5, 7.

2. See Periodic Table See Note at chlorophyll

chlorine

1. A chemical element, normally a corrosive gas, that is widely used for sterilization and cleaning.

Chlorine in CFCs is believed to be responsible for the ozone hole.

Chlorine is added to drinking water to kill bacteria.

Other Word Forms

• chlorinous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chlorine¹

First recorded in 1800–10; chlor- ¹ + -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of chlorine¹

C19 (coined by Sir Humphrey Davy): from _chloro- + _-ine ², referring to its colour

Example Sentences

By the end of the third day of the water ban, using a $4 million mix of aluminum and chlorine, Lake Erie was shocked like a pool back to safe levels.

From Salon

Firefighters were there to protect the lodge, but when a water treatment plant burned down and released toxic chlorine gas into the air, they had to evacuate.

From BBC

Firefighters in several areas were forced to evacuate due to a leak of chlorine at a nearby water treatment facility, the NPS added.

From BBC

It should throw a shadow of chemical memory across our faces like the smell of chlorine.

From Los Angeles Times

Depending on the type of rocket fuel used, launches produce nitrogen oxides, chlorine, black carbon particles, water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide — and no propellant avoids creating of some kind of emissions.

From Salon

Related Words

• bleach 
• disinfectant