Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CHLORINE (Cl
2
)
Properties
A greenish-yellow gas with a characteristic pungent
odor. Forms compounds with virtually all elements.
Strong oxidizer. Slightly soluble in water. Can be
readily liquified under pressure. Very toxic.
Commercial grades
Shipped under pressure as a liquid in small and large
steel cylinders, tank cars, barges, and pipelines.
Uses
Chlorine is used for water purification and in
decreasing amounts for pulp and paper bleaching.
Some is used for metallurgical purposes such as
metal extraction. Its largest use is for the production
of organic compounds used in plastics, pesticides,
herbicides, refrigeration fluids, solvents, and others.
Manufacture
Co-produced with sodium hydroxide by the
electrolysis of salt brine.
electrical
current
2NaCl
+
2H
2
O
2NaOH
+
H
2
+
Cl
2
sodium
chloride
water
hydrogen
chlorine
Suppliers
Dow Chemical, OxyChem, PPG Industries, Formosa
Plastics, Olin, Vulcan, Georgia Gulf, LaRouche
Industries, Bayer, others.
Chlorine and sodium hydroxide are produced at the same time in a ratio to
each other that cannot be changed. This is OK for the manufacturers as long
as the demand for each of these products is the same. But that usually is not
the case. If the demand for chlorine is low, producers decrease production
because it is difficult to store chlorine. This causes sodium hydroxide to be
in short supply, and prices rise, causing some users to turn to alternates such
as sodium carbonate. When the demand for chlorine is high and sodium
hydroxide is plentiful, prices for sodium hydroxide may fall if demand fails
to meet supply.
