Chlorine is a chemical element with symbol Cl and atomic number *7.
Chlorine is in the halogen group and is the second lightest halogen
after fluorine. The element is a yellow-green gas under standard
conditions, where it forms diatomic molecules. It has the highest
electron affinity and the third highest electronegativity of all
the elements; for this reason, chlorine is a strong oxidizing
agent. Free chlorine is rare on Earth, and is usually a result of
direct or indirect oxidation by oxygen.Principal applications of
chlorine are in the production of a wide range of industrial and
consumer products.By ***8, the US Department of Treasury called for
all drinking water to be disinfected with chlorine. Chlorine is
presently an important chemical for water purification (such as
water treatment plants), in disinfectants, and in bleach.
