CHLORINE (Gr. diloros, pale green) is a non-metallic element discovered by Scheele in 1774, and named by him deAlogbdicated marine air. Afterwards, in 1810, Davy proved it to be an elementary body, and gave it the name which it now bears. In nature it is always found in a state of combination. United with sodium (Na), it occurs very largely as the chloride of sodium (NaC1)—common salt—in the ocean; in large beds, as rock-salt; in all natural waters, including even rain-water; in clays, soils, limestone; in volcanic incrustations; and in the vegetable and animal kingdoms. The preparation of gaseous C. by its liberation, directly or indirectly, from common salt, has been fully described under BLEACHING POWDER, which is the form in which C. is prepared and employed commercially. For experimental purposes, the as may be received in jars filled with water at the pneumatic trough, when the C. rises into the jar, and displaces the water. When thus obtained, it is a yellowish-green gas with a peculiar and suffocating odor, is not combustible, and a very feeble supporter of ordinary combustion. A lighted candle placed in it burns with a very smoky flame, owing to the hydrogen of the oil alone burning, and the carbon being liberated. Several of the metals, such as antimony, copper, and arsenic in a fine state of division, or in the condition of thin leaves, at once become red hot, and burn when introduced into the gas. A piece of thin paper soaked in turpentine likewise bursts into flame. C. has the symbol Cl, and the atomic weight or equivalent of 35.5. It is a very heavy gas, nearly 2} times heavier than air, its specific gravity being 2,470 (air=1000): it is soluble in cold water to the extent of two volumes of C. in one of water, and yields a solution resem bling the gas in color, odor, and other properties. The principal properties of C. are those of a bleacher of cotton and linen (see BLEACHING). and a most powerful disinfect
ant (q.v.). The gas can be condensed by pressure and cold into a transparent dark greenish-yellow limpid liquid, with a specific gravity of 1330 (H0=1000), which also possesses bleaching properties, and a most powerful odor. On the animal system C. acts, in very minute quantity, by producing a sensation of warmth in the respiratory passages, and increasing the expectoration: in large quantity, by causing spasm of the glottis, violent cough, and a feeling of suffocation. The workmen in chemical manu factories, who get accustomed to the C. in small quantity, are generally stout—at least, lay on fat—but complain of acidity iu the stomach, which they correct by taking chalk, and also suffer from the corrosion of their teeth, which are eaten away to stumps. The antidotes to the evil effects of the introduction of C. into the lungs are the inhala tion of the vapor of water, alcohol, ether, or chloroform; but the two latter should never be resorted to except under medical supervision.
C. unites with the metals and many other substances to form an extensive class of salts known as chlorides.
(Gr. chloros, green), an abundant mineral, consisting of silica, alumina, magnesia, and protoxide of iron, in somewhat variable proportions. It is of a green color, rarely occurs crystallized in hexagonal crystals, sometimes foliated like talc. It is rather soft, and is easily broken or scratched with a knife. Before the blow-pipe, it is with difficulty fused on thin edges. It is readily distinguished from talc by yielding water in a closed tube.
or CHLORITE-SLATE, a green slaty rock, in which chlorite is abundant in foliated plates, usually blended with minute grains of quartz, and some times with feldspar or mica.