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Chlorine vs. Chloride: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 1, 2024
Chlorine is a chemical element, a gas at room temperature, while chloride is a negatively charged ion formed when chlorine gains an electron.
Chlorine vs. Chloride

Key Differences

Chlorine is a yellow-green gas with a pungent odor, commonly used in disinfection and bleach production. Chloride, on the other hand, is an anion, often found in salts like sodium chloride (table salt), essential for human fluid balance.
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Jan 01, 2024
In its elemental form, chlorine is highly reactive and toxic, making it useful for killing bacteria in water. Chloride ions, being stable and less reactive, play a crucial role in conducting electrical impulses in the body.
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Chlorine gas is used in the chemical industry for producing products like PVC. In contrast, chloride ions are ubiquitous in nature, present in seawater, and necessary for plant and animal life.
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The production of chlorine involves electrolysis, where chloride ions are oxidized. This process highlights their chemical interrelationship, though their applications are distinct.
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While chlorine is a powerful oxidizing agent, chloride ions are typically involved in redox reactions as a spectator ion, showing their different chemical behaviors.
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Comparison Chart

Chemical Nature

Element, Cl
Ion, Cl-
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Physical State

Gas at room temperature
Ion, usually part of a compound
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Reactivity

Highly reactive
Relatively stable
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Role in Nature

Used in disinfection, bleaching
Essential in biological functions
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Industrial Use

In manufacturing, like PVC production
Common in salts, like sodium chloride
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Chlorine and Chloride Definitions

Chlorine

Chlorine is a potent irritant, harmful in high concentrations.
Inhaling chlorine gas can cause respiratory issues.
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Chloride

Chloride is essential for maintaining fluid balance.
Chloride ions are a key part of the body's electrolytes.
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Chlorine

Chlorine is involved in water treatment processes.
Drinking water is often chlorinated to eliminate pathogens.
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Chloride

Chloride is a common component in various salts.
Potassium chloride is used as a salt substitute.
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Chlorine

Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas, used as a disinfectant.
Pools are often treated with chlorine to keep them clean.
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Chloride

Chloride ions are involved in electrical conductivity.
Nerve impulses rely on the movement of chloride ions.
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Chlorine

Chlorine is used in the production of plastics and solvents.
PVC, a common plastic, is made using chlorine.
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Chloride

Chloride is a negatively charged ion of chlorine.
Sodium chloride, table salt, contains chloride ions.
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Chlorine

Chlorine is a chemical element with the symbol Cl.
Chlorine is found on the periodic table between sulfur and argon.
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Chloride

Chloride is present in seawater and many minerals.
The salinity of oceans is partially due to chloride.
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Dec 19, 2023

Chlorine

A highly irritating, greenish-yellow halogen element, existing as a diatomic gas, Cl2, and capable of combining with nearly all other elements, produced principally by electrolysis of sodium chloride and used widely to disinfect water, as a bleaching agent, and in the manufacture of many important compounds including chlorates, sodium hypochlorite, and chloroform. Atomic number 17; atomic weight 35.453; freezing point -100.5°C; boiling point -34.04°C; specific gravity 1.56 (-33.6°C); valence 1, 3, 5, 7. See Periodic Table.
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Chloride

Univalent anionic chlorine, or a compound of chlorine, especially a binary compound of chlorine with a more electropositive element.
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Chlorine

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

(chemistry) any salt of hydrochloric acid, such as sodium chloride, or any binary compound of chlorine and another element or radical
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Chlorine

(countable) A single atom of this element.
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Chloride

A binary compound of chlorine with another element or radical; as, chloride of sodium (common salt).
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Chlorine

One of the elementary substances, commonly isolated as a greenish yellow gas, two and one half times as heavy as air, of an intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and exceedingly poisonous. It is abundant in nature, the most important compound being common salt (Sodium chloride). It is powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent. Symbol Cl. Atomic weight, 35.4.
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Chloride

Any compound containing a chlorine atom
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Chlorine

A common nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; best known as a heavy yellow irritating toxic gas; used to purify water and as a bleaching agent and disinfectant; occurs naturally only as a salt (as in sea water)
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Chloride

Any salt of hydrochloric acid (containing the chloride ion)
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Repeatedly Asked Queries

How is Chlorine used in water treatment?

Chlorine is used to kill bacteria and purify water.
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Is Chlorine harmful to humans?

In high concentrations, chlorine gas can be toxic and irritating.
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What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a yellow-green gas, a chemical element used in disinfection.
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What is Chloride?

Chloride is a negatively charged ion formed from chlorine.
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What role does Chloride play in the human body?

Chloride helps maintain fluid balance and aids in nerve function.
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What is chlorine's role in the production of PVC plastic?

Chlorine is a key component in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.
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Does chlorine have a distinct odor?

Yes, chlorine gas has a distinctive and pungent odor that is often associated with swimming pools.
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Can Chlorine exist naturally?

Chlorine is rarely found in its elemental form in nature due to its reactivity.
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Is chlorine a naturally occurring element in the human body?

Yes, small amounts of chlorine are present in the human body, primarily in the form of chloride ions.
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Where is Chloride commonly found?

Chloride is commonly found in salts like sodium chloride.
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Is chlorine a nonmetal or a metal?

Chlorine is a nonmetal.
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Can chloride ions be detected in water testing?

Yes, chloride ions can be detected through water testing, which is important for monitoring water quality.
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Can chlorine gas support combustion?

No, chlorine gas is not combustible and can act as a fire suppressant.
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Are chloride ions involved in nerve function?

Yes, chloride ions are involved in nerve signal transmission and muscle function.
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Can high chloride levels in drinking water be harmful?

Elevated chloride levels in drinking water can affect taste but are generally not harmful to health when within safe limits.
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Is chloride used in chemical reactions and compounds?

Yes, chloride ions are used in various chemical reactions and form compounds with other elements and ions.
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Shumaila Saeed
Written by
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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