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   Cl

Chlorine

(Gr. chloros, greenish-yellow)

Cl at. wt. 35.453
   at. no. 17
   f.p. - l00.98°C
   b.p. -34.6°C 
   density 3.214gm/l
   sp. gr. 1.56 (-33.6°C)
   valence 1, 3, 5, or 7.
Electronic configuration
 SHELL  K L M N O P Q
 SUB  SHELL He Neon Argon Krypton Xenon Radon Eka-radon
1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 3d 4s 4p 4d 5s 5p 4f 5d 6s 6p 5f 6d 7s 7p
Chlorine 1s22s22p63s23p5        
Symbol 2P3/2
Chlorine was discovered in 1774 by Scheele, who thought it contained oxygen, then named in 1810 by Davy, who insisted it was an element. In nature it is found in the combined state only, chiefly with sodium as common salt (NaCI), carnallite (KMgcl3~6H2O), and sylvite (KCI). It is a member of the halogen (salt forming) group of elements and is obtained from chlorides by the action of oxidizing agents and more often by electrolysis; it is a greenish-yellow gas, combining directly with nearly all elements. At 100C one volume of water dissolves 3.10 volumes of chlorine, at 30~C only 1.77 volumes. Chlorine is widely used in making many every-day products. It is used for producing safe drinking water the world over. Even the smallest water supplies are now usually chlorinated. It is also extensively used in the production of paper products, dyestuffs, textiles, petroleum products, medicines, antiseptics, insecticides, foodstuffs, solvents, paints, plastics, and many other consumer products. Most of the chlorine produced is used in the manufacture ofchlorin- ated compounds for sanitation, pulp bleaching, disinfectants, and textile processing. Further use is in the manufacture of chlorates, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and in the extraction of bromine. Organic chemistry demands much from chlorine, both as an oxidizing agent and in substitution, since it often brings desired properties in an organic com- pound when substituted for hydrogen, as in one form of synthetic rubber. Chlorine is a respiratory irritant. The gas irritates the mucous membranes and the liquid burns the skin. As little as 3.5 ppm. can be detected as an odor, and l000ppm. is likely to be fatal after a few deep breaths. It was used as a war gas in 1915. The recommended maximum allowable concentration in air is about 1 ppm. for prolonged exposure.

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