What is chlorine and how does it have an impact on humans’ health and the environment? Chlorine is a chemical element that was discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774. Its symbol is Cl and its atomic number is 17. Chlorine has the physical form of a diatomic greenish-yellow gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. 1. 2. Indeed, its name is derived from the Greek word ‘chloros’, meaning ‘yellow-green’. 3. In the Periodic Table of Elements, Chlorine is found in the P-block, in group 17 and period 3. Chlorine is a non-metal, the second-lightest of the halogen family, which consists of salt-forming elements. 1. 2. Chlorine is 2.5 times as heavy as air. It has a pungent, suffocating odor and it is poisonous. 1. 4. Chlorine is highly reactive and, due to its capability to combine with nearly any other element, in nature it is only found as part of compounds, the most common being sodium chloride. 1. 2. 3.
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The use of chlorine is “essential to public health”. 4. The chlorination of drinking water kills the germs in the water, making it safer to drink for humans. Chlorine disinfectants are also used to ensure the safety of recreational waters such as swimming and spa pools by killing waterborne pathogenic microorganisms. 4. 5. Moreover, chlorine is contained in several cleaning products such as bleach, which is used for house cleaning and food sanitation. 5. However, exposure to chlorine is extremely dangerous for people’s health. In liquid form - for instance, dissolved in water - chlorine can corrode human tissues, while chlorine gas can irritate the mucus membranes. 3. 5. Inhaling small amounts of chlorine for short periods has adverse effects on the human respiratory system and high concentrations of chlorine gas can even be fatal. 1. 3. The devastating effects of large amounts of chlorine on humans were tested during the First World War, when chlorine gas was used as a weapon.
The use of chlorine is “essential to public health”. 4. The chlorination of drinking water kills the germs in the water, making it safer to drink for humans. Chlorine disinfectants are also used to ensure the safety of recreational waters such as swimming and spa pools by killing waterborne pathogenic microorganisms. 4. 5. Moreover, chlorine is contained in several cleaning products such as bleach, which is used for house cleaning and food sanitation. 5. However, exposure to chlorine is extremely dangerous for people’s health. In liquid form - for instance, dissolved in water - chlorine can corrode human tissues, while chlorine gas can irritate the mucus membranes. 3. 5. Inhaling small amounts of chlorine for short periods has adverse effects on the human respiratory system and high concentrations of chlorine gas can even be fatal. 1. 3. The devastating effects of large amounts of chlorine on humans were tested during the First World War, when chlorine gas was used as a weapon.