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Chemistry of Chlorine

    Chlorine is a halogen in row 17 and period 3.  It is very reactive and is widely used for many purposes, such as as a disinfectant.   Due to its reactivity, it is commonly found in nature bonded to many different elements.

    Properties

    Atomic Number 17
    Atomic Weight 35.457
    Electron Configuration [Na]3s23p5
    1st Ionization Energy 1251 kJ/mol
    Ionic Radius 181 pm
    Density (Dry Gas) 3.2 g/L
    Melting Point -101°C
    Boiling Point -34.05°C
    Specific Heat 0.23 g cal/g/°C
    Heat of Vaporization 68 g cal/g
    Heat of Fusion 22 g cal/g
    Critical Temperature 114°C
    Standard Electron Potential for Cl2 + 2e- --> 2Cl- 1.358V

    At room temperature, pure chlorine is a yellow-green gas. Chlorine is easily reduced, making it a good oxidation agent.  By itself, it is not combustible, but many of its reactions with different compounds are exothermic and produce heat.  Because chlorine is so highly reactive, it is found in nature in a combined state with other elements, such as NaCl (common salt) or KCl (sylvite). It forms strong ionic bonds with metal ions. Since it is a halogen, chlorine exists as Cl2, a nonpolar diatomic molecule with a low boiling point. 

    Reactions Involving Chlorine

    Chlorine is highly reactive with many different elements and compounds

    With Water

    Usually, reactions of chlorine with water are for disinfection purposes. Chlorine is only slightly soluble in water, with its maximum solubility occurring at 49°F. After that, its solubility decreases until 212°F. At temperatures below that range, it forms crystalline hydrates (usually Cl2).

    H2O)  and above it, it becomes insoluble. Between that range, it usually forms hypochlorous acid (HOCl). This is the primary reaction used for water/wastewater disinfection and bleaching.

    Cl2+H2O → HOCl + HCl

    At the boiling temperature of water, chlorine decomposes water

    2Cl2+2H2O → 4HCl + O2

    With Oxygen

    Although chlorine usually has -1 oxidation state, it can have oxidation states of +1, +3, +4, or +7 in certain compounds, such as when it forms Oxoacids with the alkali metals

    Oxidation State Compound
    +1 NaClO
    +3 NaClO2
    +5 NaClO3
    +7 NaClO4

    With Hydrogen

    When H2 and Cl2 are exposed to sunlight or high temperatures, they react quickly and violently in a spontaneous reaction.  Otherwise, the reaction proceeds slowly.

    H2+Cl2 → 2HCl

    HCl can also be produced by reacting Chlorine with compounds containing Hydrogen, such as Hydrogen sulfide

    With Halogens

    Chlorine, like many of the other halogens, can form interhalogen compounds.  Examples include BrCl, ICl, ICl2.  The heavier elements in one of these compounds acts as the central atom.  For Chlorine, this occurs when it is bounded to fluorine in ClF, ClF3, and ClF5

    With Metals

    Chlorine reacts with most metals and forms metal chlorides, with most of these compounds being soluble in water.  Examples of insoluble compounds include AgCl and PbCl2. Gaseous or liquid chlorine usually does not have an effect on metals such as iron, copper, platinum, silver, and steel at temperatures below 230°F.  At high temperatures, however, it reacts rapidly with many of the metals, especially if the metal is in a form that has a high surface area (Such as when powdered or made into wires). 

    Example  

    Example: Chlorine oxidizing iron
     

    Cl2+Fe → FeCl2

    Half Reactions:

    Fe → Fe+2 +2e

    Cl2+2e- → 2Cl-


    Isotopes

    Cl35 and Cl37 are the two natural, stable isotopes of Chlorine. Cl36, a radioactive isotope, occurs only in trace amounts as a result of cosmic rays in the atmosphere.  Chlorine is usually a mixture of 75% Cl35 and 25% Cl37. Besides these Chlorine-35/36/37, the other isotopes must be artificially produced.  A table containing some common isotopes is found below:

     

    Isotope Atomic Mass Half-Life
    Cl33 32.986 2.8 seconds
    Cl34 33.983 33 minutes
    Cl35 34.979 Stable
    Cl36 35.978 400,000 years
    Cl37 35.976 Stable
    Cl38 37.981 39 Minutes

    Production and Uses

    Chlorine is a widely used chemical with many applications.

    Water Treatment

    Chlorine is used in the disinfection (removal of harmful microorganisms) of water and wastewater. In the United States, it is almost exclusively used.  Compared to other methods, it is effective at lower concentrations, and is inexpensive. Chlorine was first used to disinfect drinking water in 1908, using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl):

    NaOCl+ H2O → HOCl+NaOH

    Following widespread use of sodium hypochlorite to disinfect water, diseases caused by unclean water decreased greatly.  Disinfection is usually split into two stages; the first being the initial treatment that destroys and prevents the growth of algae and bacteria, and the second involving leaving some active agent that continues to prevent harmful pathogens from growing again. 

    PVC

    PVC(Polyvinyl Chloride) is a plastic which is widely manufactured throughout the globe, and is responsible for nearly a third of the world’s use of chlorine.  It is usually manufactured by first taking EDC(ethylene dichloride) and then making it into a vinyl chloride, the basic unit for PVC.  From then on, vinyl chloride monomers are linked together to form a polymer.  PVC becomes malleable at high temperatures, making it flexible and ideal for many purposes from pipes to clothing.  However, PVC is toxic.  When in gaseous form and inhaled, it can cause damage to the lungs, the body’s blood circulation, and nervous system. The production of PVC has many regulations surrounding it due to the many harmful effects that the plastic itself and the intermediates involved have on the environment and on human health.

    Paper Bleaching

    Paper is one of the most widely consumed products in the world.  Before wood is made into a paper product, however, it must be turned into pulp (separated fibrous material).  This pulp has a color that ranges from light to dark brown.  Chlorine is used to bleach the pulp to turn it into a bright, white color, which makes it desirable for consumers. The process usually involves a number of steps, depending on the nature of the pulp.

    Problems

    1) Solve and balance the following equations
            a) H2S + Cl2 + H20 -->
            b)Sb + Cl2 +H20 -->

    2) Write the electron configuration for Chlorine.

    3) What is the molecular geometry of the following? (See Valence Bond Theory)

    a) ClO2

    b) ClF5

    4) What are the naturally occurring Chlorine isotopes?

    5) When does Chlorine have an oxidation state of +5?

    Answers

    1) Solve and balance the following equations:

    a) H2S + 4Cl2 + 4H20 --> H2S04 + HCl

    b) 2Sb + 3Cl2 +H20 > 2SbCl3

    2) The electron configuration of Chlorine is: 1s22s22p63s23p5

    3) What is the molecular geometry of the following?

    a) ClO2 -Bent or angular; ClO2 is bonded to two ligands, has one lone pair and one unpaired electron.

    b) ClF5 -Square pyramid; ClO2 is bonded to five ligands and has one lone pair

    4) The naturally occurring Chlorine isotopes are Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-36. While Chlorine-37 does occur naturally, it is radioactive and unstable. 

    5) Chlorine has an oxidation state of +5 when it reacts with oxoacids with the Alkali Metals.

    References

    1. Sconce, J.S. Chlorine: Its Manufacture, Properties, and Uses. Reinhold Corporation, 1962.
    2. Stringer, Ruth, and Paul Johnston. Chlorine and the Enviroment. Norwell: Kluwer Academic, 2001.
    3. Reynolds, Tom D. Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental Engineering. Brooks/Cole Engineering Division, a Division of Wadsworth Inc, 1982. 523-532
    4. Davis, Stanley N., DeWayne Cecil, Marek Zreda, and Pankaj Sharma. "Chlorine-36 and the Initial Value Problem." Hydrogeology Journal 6.1 (1998): 104-14. SpringerLink. Web. 23 May 2010. <http://www.springerlink.com/content/3205uburlwx2x48g/>
    5. Pettrucci, Ralph H. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. 9th. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007

    Contributors

    • Judy Hsia (University of California, Davis)

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    Viewing 2 of 2 comments: view all
    I thought your page was really great and you did an awesome job. I thought that maybe a few pics would make it look more professional like pictures under products and uses or something. Also, a few more problems would get the full credit. Under the Water Treatment section, you should add a period after "used" and one after "(NaOCl)" instead of after the word before it. Other than that, I really liked your page.
    Posted 01:24, 26 May 2010
    Really great page! Just a few suggestions:
    -under reaction with water, a period should be added after "occurring at 49°F"
    -under reaction with water, a period should be added after "hypochlorous acid (HOCl)". The next part doesn't need to be in (), it's good enough to be its own sentence
    -under reaction with hydrogen, the "H2 and Cl2" should have the 2s be subscripted
    -under reaction with metals, a period should be added after "PbCl2"
    -under problems, the "ClO2" and "ClF5" should have the 2 and 5 subscripted
    -under answers, the same thing needs to be subscripted

    Other than some grammar corrections, your page is really good! I thought it had plenty of information, though a couple pictures could make it look a bit more professional. Great job!
    Posted 20:44, 27 May 2010
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    Chlorine Gas at room temperature.
    21.53 kB23:10, 3 Jun 2010megburroActions