chloramine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “chloramine” mean?
A chemical compound containing chlorine and nitrogen, used especially as a disinfectant in water treatment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical compound containing chlorine and nitrogen, used especially as a disinfectant in water treatment.
Any of a group of compounds formed by the reaction of chlorine with ammonia or organic amines, known for their persistent disinfecting properties in water systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling and usage are identical. The compound name follows standard IUPAC chemical nomenclature.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. May carry negative connotations for the general public when associated with 'chemicals in water'.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard within relevant technical fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “chloramine” in a Sentence
[verb] + chloramine (e.g., add, form, remove, test for)chloramine + [noun] (e.g., chloramine levels, chloramine disinfection)preposition + chloramine (e.g., treated with chloramine, residual of chloramine)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chloramine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The water company will chloraminate the supply to maintain a residual disinfectant.
- We need to chloraminate the system after the repair.
American English
- The utility plans to chloraminate the water to reduce disinfection byproducts.
- They chloraminated the reservoir as a precaution.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'using chloramine' or 'via chloramination'.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. Use 'using chloramine' or 'via chloramination'.]
adjective
British English
- The chloramine residual was within the safe limit.
- They installed a chloramine-removing filter.
American English
- The chloramine level needs to be checked weekly.
- Use a chloramine-neutralizing agent for the fish tank.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in businesses related to water treatment, pool supplies, or filtration systems.
Academic
Common in chemistry, environmental engineering, and public health research papers.
Everyday
Limited to discussions about tap water taste/smell, aquarium keeping, or home brewing where water must be dechlorinated.
Technical
The primary register. Used precisely to describe a specific class of chemical compounds and their role in disinfection processes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chloramine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chloramine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chloramine”
- Mispronouncing as 'chlor-uh-meen' (should be 'KLOR-uh-meen').
- Using 'chloramine' interchangeably with 'chlorine' in technical writing.
- Misspelling as 'chloromine'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
At the low concentrations used in public water supplies, regulatory agencies consider chloramine safe for drinking. It effectively controls pathogens while reducing the formation of certain harmful byproducts compared to chlorine alone.
Chloramine is more difficult to remove than chlorine. Effective methods include using activated carbon filters designed for chloramine, chemical neutralizers (e.g., campden tablets), or reverse osmosis systems.
Chlorine is a pure element (Cl2) or hypochlorite. Chloramine is a compound formed when chlorine reacts with ammonia. Chloramine is less reactive, evaporates more slowly, and provides a more persistent disinfectant residual in water pipes.
Chloramine is toxic to fish and beneficial bacteria in aquarium filters. It must be neutralized or removed from tap water before adding it to a tank, unlike chlorine which can also be removed by letting water sit.
A chemical compound containing chlorine and nitrogen, used especially as a disinfectant in water treatment.
Chloramine is usually technical / scientific in register.
Chloramine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːrəmiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːrəˌmiːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHLORine + AMINE (a nitrogen compound) = CHLORAMINE. It's the product when chlorine meets ammonia.
Conceptual Metaphor
A persistent guardian (vs. chlorine as a rapid striker). Chloramine is often described as a longer-lasting, more stable disinfectant.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary reason for using chloramine in water treatment instead of chlorine?