Chlorine By Teresita Meroff |
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| Chlorine was discovered in 1774 by the Swedish chemist
Carl Wilhelm Scheele who thought the greenish gas was a compound. However, in 1810 a
British chemist Sir Humphry Davy found that Chlorine is an element and gave it the name it
has today. The elements’ symbol is Cl and according to the periodic table its’
atomic number is 17 and its’ atomic weight is 35.453. Chlorine melts at -101 C and
boils at -34.05 C. The gas has an irritating odor and is dangerous when in high
concentration. It was the first substance used as a poison substance in World War I.
Chlorine is an active element reacting with water, organic compounds, and many metals.
Chlorine and products of chlorine play an important role which enables us to enjoy healthy
and productive lives; for example, drinking water. Chlorine is used to disinfect water and
the chlorine level should be at an acceptable range. If it is too high the water will
taste bad and have a distinct odor. If chlorine is too low than it won’t be able to
disinfect. Chlorine is added for sterilization purposes in heating and cooling systems.
Chlorine is also used in the food industry. Chlorine is used in the assessment of foods
because it ensures sterilization. The amount of Chlorine used in and around food has to be
carefully dosed to avoid being dangerous or tasting and smelling bad. The measurement of
chlorine is used in the filtration and in purification stages of the waterwaste treatment
process. Chlorine is also commonly used in many manufacturing industries such as textile
and paper. Chlorine is also used in swimming pools. Too much can burn swimmer’s eyes
and body, also causing a distinct odor. If the Chlorine dosage is too low than the water
won’t be disinfected. Chlorine also plays an important role in public health. Ninety
eight percent of drinking water in the United States relies on chlorine or chlorine based
products for disaffection. In 1900, 25,000 deaths per year were caused from typhoid fever
when unit chlorine was introduced to the water supply. Of the United States, in 1960,
there were fewer than 20 per year with typhoid fever. Also, The World Health Organization
estimates that 25,000 children die from waterborne diseases each day in parts of the world
where chlorinated water is not used. About 96 percent of crop-protection chemicals use
chlorine in the manufacturing process. Eighty five percent of manufactures of medicines
and vitamins include chlorine. Most of chlorine is produced by ordinary salt solution,
with sodium hydroxide as a by-product. Chlorine is shipped as a liquid in steel bottles or
tank car. The total number of jobs related to the chlorine industry amounts to about two
million. The value of chlorine to the European economy is estimated at more than 1,000,000
million per year. Of the fifteen elements chlorine makes up 99.5% of the human body;
chlorine is the most abundant. Of the sixteen elements that make up 99.5% of the
earth’s crust, chlorine is ranked 11th. A mole is a base unit of the International System of Units. A mole is the amount of a substance that contains many particles such as atoms, molecules, ions, and electrons. A mole is equalivant to the atomic mass of an element, the formula mass of an ionic compound, the molecular mass of a molecular compound, or 6.023 x 10 atoms, molecules of formula units. |
