IC Controls

Chlorine

Chlorine (symbol Cl) is a chemical element which can be found in the earth and the oceans. It is a greenish yellow gas at room temperature, and it is 2.5 times heavier than air. It turns to a liquid state at -34ºC (-29ºF), and it becomes a yellowish crystalline solid at -103ºC (-153ºF). Chlorine is highly chemically active and, as such, is typically found in nature bonded to other elements like sodium, potassium and magnesium.

Chlorine, dissolved in liquid, is one of the most effective and economical germ-killers for the treatment of water to make it potable or safe to drink. Chlorine’s powerful disinfectant qualities come from its ability to bond with and destroy the outer surfaces of bacteria and viruses. Drinking water chlorination is one of the most widely used methods to safeguard drinking water supplies. In addition to water disinfection, chlorine and its derivatives are used to treat sewage and industrial effluent, and as household and industrial bleaches to maintain and improve hygiene standards.