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Chlorine

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A vial containing liquefied chlorine, a chemical element, sealed inside a protective acrylic cube for scientific study.

What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a special kind of chemical element. It has the symbol Cl and the atomic number 17. At room temperature, chlorine looks like a yellow-green gas. It is very useful but also needs to be handled carefully.

Where Did Chlorine Come From?

People have known about chlorine for a long time, especially in the form of table salt. In the early 1800s, a scientist named Sir Humphry Davy discovered chlorine as an element. Today, we make chlorine from something called brine using a process called electrolysis.

Why is Chlorine Important?

Chlorine is used in many everyday things. It helps make plastics like the pipes in your home. It is also used to keep swimming pools clean and safe. Without chlorine, our drinking water might not be safe to drink. It works by stopping tiny living things called bacteria from growing.

Fun Facts About Chlorine

  • Chlorine is found in seawater and table salt.
  • It was first used to clean fabrics in the 1700s.
  • Chlorine helps make many products we use every day, from clothes to cleaning supplies.

Chlorine is a very useful element, but it must always be used the right way to keep everyone safe.

Images

Portrait of Carl Wilhelm Scheele, an 18th-century Swedish chemist known for his discoveries in chemistry.
A scientific diagram showing the crystal structure of deuterium chloride, helpful for learning about molecular arrangements.
A sample of Nickel(II) chloride hexahydrate, an inorganic chemical compound often studied in science classes.
A 3D model showing the structure of a chloride ion, helpful for learning about chemistry.
3D model of the hypochlorite ion, showing its molecular structure.
A 3D scientific model showing the structure of a chlorite ion.
A 3D model showing the structure of a chlorate ion, helpful for learning about chemistry.
A 3D model showing the structure of the perchlorate ion, a common chemical compound.
A scientific visualization showing chlorine gas contained within a spherical apparatus.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Chlorine, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.