chlorine

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- Proto-Hellenic *kʰlōrós Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós) Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ine English chlorine Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1810 from Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós, “pale green”) + -ine.

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

   “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.”

2. A single atom of this element.
3. A chlorine-based bleach or disinfectant.

   “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.”

   “Chlorines are useful for disinfecting water and for housekeeping disinfectants.”