chlorine

Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1810 from Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós, “pale green”) + -ine.

• (General American) enPR: klôʹrēn, IPA^(key): /ˈklɔɹin/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: klôʹrēn, IPA^(key): /ˈklɔːɹiːn/

• Audio (General American):

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• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ɔːɹiːn
• Hyphenation: chlo‧rine

chlorine (usually uncountable, plural chlorines)

2. A toxic, green, gaseous chemical element (symbol Cl) with an atomic number of 17.

   Synonym: (when used as a food additive) E925

   Hypernym: halogen

   • 2024 November 24, Chris Boyette, “Investigators release update on BioLab chemical plant fire probe”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     When TCCA touches a small amount of water and doesn’t dissolve, “it can experience a chemical reaction, generating heat and causing the decomposition of the chemical, which in turn produces toxic chlorine gas and can produce explosive nitrogen trichloride,” a 2023 report by the CSB said.

3. (countable) A single atom of this element.
4. (countable) A chlorine-based bleach or disinfectant.
   • 1982, Richard Saferstein, editor, Forensic Science Handbook‎^[2], volume III, Regents/Prentice Hall, →ISBN, page 154:

     The mechanism involved in the explosive reaction between swimming pool chlorine (calcium hypochlorite) and brake fluid (polyethylene glycol), a possible improvised explosive mixture, has been studied by means of the gaseous products produced.

   • 1989, Carol Taylor, Carol Lillis, Priscilla LeMone, Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care‎^[3], J. B. Lippincott Company, →ISBN, page 513:

     Chlorines are useful for disinfecting water and for housekeeping disinfectants.

   • 2000, Frances Linzee Gordon, Ethiopia, Eritrea & Djibouti‎^[4], Lonely Planet Publications, →ISBN, page 85:

     Of the chemical solutions, chlorine tablets will kill many pathogens, but not some parasites like giardia and amoebic cysts.

• element
  • halogen

• carnallite
• halite
• sylvite

Borrowed from English chlorine.

• IPA^(key): /ˌxloːˈri.nə/
• Hyphenation: chlo‧ri‧ne
• Rhymes: -inə

chlorine f (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) chlorine

   Synonyms: chloor, zoutstof