LIQUID Chlorine

Liquid Chlorine, or liquefied chlorine gas, is a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent odor. Under atmospheric pressure and environmental temperature of -34°C, chlorine gas turns into a liquid. To help readers better understand liquid chlorine, Đông Á has compiled relevant information about liquid chlorine in the content below.

Overview of liquid chlorine

Chlorine is a non-metal element with the chemical symbol Cl. It belongs to the Halogen group, has the highest electron affinity, and is the third most electronegative element among all chemical elements. Chlorine exists in two states: liquid and gas. In the gaseous state, it is in the form of molecules consisting of two chlorine atoms bonded together.

Physical Properties

• Under normal conditions, chlorine exists as a greenish-yellow gas with a very pungent odor.

• It is a toxic gas.

• It is much heavier than air, with a molecular weight of 71.

• Solubility: It dissolves moderately in water to form a pale yellow chlorine water solution. In organic solvents, chlorine is highly soluble.

Chemical Properties

• Chlorine is a very strong oxidizing agent because it is a non-metal. When chlorine reacts with metals (except for Au and Pt), the resulting product is halide salt.
  Cu + Cl₂ → CuCl₂

• Reacts with H₂ to form a gaseous compound. If the molar ratio between H₂ and Cl₂ is 1:1, the resulting gas mixture is explosive.
  Cl₂ + H₂ → 2HCl

• Reacts with water to form HCl and HClO, with the reaction proceeding in both directions.
  Cl₂ + H₂O → HCl + HClO

• Liquid chlorine reacts with reducing agents. Its chemical properties are similar to fluorine and bromine since chlorine is also a highly active halogen:
  Cl₂ + 2NaBr → 2NaCl + Br₂

• Reacts with sodium hydroxide solution to form Javen water (sodium hypochlorite).
  Cl₂ + 2NaOH → H₂O + NaClO + NaCl

Methods for producing liquid chlorine

Liquid chlorine can be produced in laboratories or in industry. Depending on the purpose and required quantity, one of the following methods can be applied:

• Laboratory production of liquid chlorine

In laboratories, liquid chlorine is produced by reacting concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) with a strong oxidizing agent, such as solid potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) or manganese dioxide (MnO₂). If using manganese dioxide, heating is required, while potassium permanganate does not require heating.
The equations for chlorine production are as follows:
4HCl + MnO₂ → Cl₂ + MnCl₂ + 2H₂O
16HCl + 2KMnO₄ → 5Cl₂ + 2KCl + 2MnCl₂ + 6H₂O
The obtained chlorine gas is often contaminated with impurities like water vapor and hydrogen chloride gas. To remove these impurities, the chlorine gas is passed through a series of gas-washing bottles containing sodium chloride solution (to retain HCl gas) and concentrated sulfuric acid to absorb the water vapor.

• Industrial Production of Liquid Chlorine

Industrial production of liquid chlorine is done through the molten electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl).
2NaCl → 2Na + Cl₂
Alternatively, chlorine gas can be produced by electrolyzing a sodium chloride solution with membranes:
2NaCl + 2H₂O → Cl₂ + 2NaOH + H₂

Quality Indicators of liquid chlorine

Common applications of liquid chlorine

Liquid chlorine Dong A Chemical

Liquid chlorine is used in various fields, including:

• Disinfection and sterilization of drinking water, industrial wastewater, etc. The disinfection mechanism occurs as follows:
  Chlorine reacts with water to form a strong disinfectant, HClO, which diffuses through the cell membrane of microorganisms, reacts with cellular enzymes, disrupts the metabolic processes, and kills the microorganism.

• Used in industries such as paper production (bleaching of pulp), pesticides, paints, petrochemical products, dyes, food, plastics, pharmaceuticals, solvents, textiles, and many other consumer products.

• It serves as a raw material for producing chlorates, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and in the extraction of bromine.

• In organic chemical industries, chlorine is a raw material for producing VCM (Vinyl Chloride Monomer) and synthesizing PVC plastics.

Guidelines for storage, transportation, and handling of liquid chlorine

All chemicals can be hazardous if not handled properly. For liquid chlorine, consider the following precautions:

Transportation

Liquid chlorine is transported in ISO tanks, IBC containers, or 150 lb cylinders, typically by rail, which is the safest means. Smaller quantities can be transported by truck.

Storage

• Store liquid chlorine in a separate, designated room that has been inspected and approved for safety compliance by relevant authorities.

• The storage room must be airtight, cool, dry, well-ventilated, isolated from other areas, and sealed. It should have at least one window for emergency exits and a ventilation fan to exchange air at least once per minute, running whenever the room is unoccupied.

• Keep liquid chlorine away from flammable substances, reducing agents, or strong bases.

• Store liquid chlorine at temperatures below 35°C. The lowest storage temperature is 15°C, and it should be kept away from direct sunlight.

Handling liquid chlorine emergencies

Liquid chlorine is highly dangerous, and even a small concentration of 40-60 ppm in the air can be lethal. Therefore, be prepared to handle the following emergencies:

• Inhalation of Chlorine Gas
  If chlorine gas is inhaled, symptoms may include shock, rapid breathing, headache, nausea, continuous coughing, or even unconsciousness. The permissible concentration of chlorine in the air is ≤ 1 ppm. In case of chlorine gas poisoning, follow these steps:
  · Move the victim away from the contaminated area to a well-ventilated location.
  · Keep the victim warm and resting.
  · Alleviate coughing by providing milk or medicine and administer artificial respiration if needed.
  · Seek immediate medical attention.

• Skin Contact with Liquid Chlorine
  Contact with liquid chlorine can cause frostbite, cold burns, or corrosion. In such cases, remove all clothing and wash the skin thoroughly with water. Then, seek medical attention.

• Eye Contact with Liquid Chlorine
  If liquid chlorine gets into the eyes, it may cause severe pain, blurred vision, or blindness. Flush the eyes with water for at least 15 minutes while keeping the eyelids open. Then, seek medical care.

Where to buy Liquid chlorine at a good price and trusted Quality

Liquid chlorine Dong A Chemical

As a company with many years of experience in the chemical supply industry, Dong A JSC is a trusted supplier of liquid chlorine, well-regarded for its product quality by many clients, including major companies. Not only is the product quality guaranteed, but the prices of the chemicals supplied by Dong A JSC are also highly competitive. If you are looking to buy liquid chlorine, contact us immediately for the best and most prompt price quote.