The Element: Chlorine
...Chlorine has
an atomic number of 17 and an atomic weight of 35.453. It has a
valence number of 3. The element has 3 energy levels. Chlorine exists
as a greenish-yellow gas at normal temperatures and pressures. Chlorine
is second in reactivity only to fluorine among the halogen elements.
Chlorine is a nonmetal. It is estimated that 0.045% of the earth's
crust and 1.9% of sea water are chlorine. Chlorine combines with
metals and nonmetals and organic materials to form hundreds of
chlorine compounds. Chlorine is about 2.5 times as dense as air and
moderately soluble in water, forming a pale yellowish green solution.
Chlorine is so reactive that it never occurs free in nature.
Chemical Properties
Chlorine is in the halogen family, and like all the other
halogen elements chlorine has a strong tendency to gain one electron
and become a chloride ion. Chlorine readily reacts with metals to form
chlorides, most of which are soluble in water. Chlorine also reacts
directly with many nonmetals such as sulfur, phosphorus, and other
halogens. Chlorine can support combustion; if a candle were to be thrown
into a vessel of chlorine, it would continue to burn, releasing dense,
black clouds of smoke, The chlorine combines with hydrogen of the
paraffin, forming hydrogen chloride, and uncombined carbon is left in
the form of soot. Soot is black residue from fuel. Chlorine replaces
iodine and bromine from their salts. Dry chlorine is somewhat inert or
not able to move, but moist chlorine unites directly with most of the
elements.
History
Chlorine was discovered in 1774 by Karl Scheele. Humphry Davy
proved that chlorine was an element. Extensive production began 100
years later. During the 20th Century. The amount of Chlorine used was
considered a measure of industrial growth. In, 1975 chlorine
productions ranked seventh on the list of largest-volume chemicals
produced...
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