Chlorine – Preparation, Properties and Uses

Preparation of Chlorine:

Chlorine can be prepared by any of the following processes:

Properties of Chlorine:

• It is a greenish yellow gas with pungent and suffocating odour.
• It is soluble in H₂O

Reaction with metals and non-metals:

Chlorine reacts with a number of metals and non-metals to form chlorides. For example:

Reaction with ammonia:

When treated with excess ammonia, chlorine gives nitrogen and ammonium chloride whereas when excess chlorine reacts with ammonia, nitrogen trichloride is formed.

Reaction with NaOH:

Chlorine reacts differently with cold dilute NaOH and hot concentrated NaOH.

Reaction with slaked lime:

Cl₂ when treated with dry slaked lime it gives bleaching powder:

Cl₂ acts as a powerful bleaching agent and its bleaching action are due to its oxidizing nature.

Uses of Chlorine:

• Chlorine is used for bleaching wood pulp.
• It is used in the extraction of gold and platinum.
• It is used in in sterilising drinking water.
• It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs and organic compounds like CCl_4, DDT, refrigerants etc.