chlorine
Meaning of chlorine: Chlorine is a chemical element widely used to disinfect water and surfaces by killing bacteria and other microorganisms.
Definition of chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element commonly used in a reactive form to disinfect water, surfaces, and equipment by killing or inactivating bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. It is added in controlled, measured amounts to public water supplies and swimming pools, and it is a common ingredient in household and industrial cleaning and bleaching products.
At the concentrations used for disinfection, chlorine is generally handled as safe and effective, but exposure to higher concentrations or to concentrated chlorine gas can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, and mixing certain chlorine-containing products with other chemicals can produce harmful gases. Chlorine is also used industrially in the manufacture of many other chemical compounds.
Chlorine compounds vary widely in their properties and uses, so the effects and safety considerations of a chlorine-containing substance depend on its specific chemical form and concentration.
Used in a sentence
The safety data sheet described proper handling procedures for the chlorine-based disinfectant.
Good to know
The health effects of chlorine exposure depend heavily on its concentration and form, since the low levels used for water disinfection are handled differently from exposure to concentrated chlorine gas or chemical mixtures that release it.