chlorine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical / Academic / Everyday (in contexts of cleaning/swimming pools)
Quick answer
What does “chlorine” mean?
A chemical element (symbol Cl) with atomic number 17, a highly reactive, toxic, greenish-yellow gas of the halogen group.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical element (symbol Cl) with atomic number 17, a highly reactive, toxic, greenish-yellow gas of the halogen group.
A substance (chlorine gas or its compounds) widely used for disinfecting water, bleaching, and in the manufacture of many industrial products.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation differ (see IPA). No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Both varieties strongly associate it with swimming pools, bleach, and chemical disinfection.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects in scientific and domestic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chlorine” in a Sentence
The pool contains [chlorine][Chlorine] is added to [water]Exposure to [chlorine]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chlorine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The water must be chlorinated before use.
- They chlorinate the supply regularly.
American English
- The facility chlorinates the wastewater.
- We need to chlorinate the pool soon.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The chlorinated water smelled strongly.
- A chlorinated solvent was used.
American English
- The chlorinated pool was crystal clear.
- Chlorinated hydrocarbons are studied.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In manufacturing and supply chain contexts for chemicals and water treatment.
Academic
Central in chemistry, environmental science, and public health discussions.
Everyday
Most commonly referenced regarding swimming pool maintenance and household cleaning.
Technical
Precise use in chemistry, engineering, toxicology, and water purification protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chlorine”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chlorine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chlorine”
- Pronouncing as /ˈklɒrɪn/ (incorrect vowel). Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a chlorine').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In controlled, small doses (like in tap water or pools), it is safe and vital for killing pathogens. In concentrated gas form, it is highly toxic and dangerous.
The strong 'chlorine smell' in pools is often due to chloramines, compounds formed when chlorine reacts with contaminants like sweat or urine, not chlorine itself.
Household bleach (like sodium hypochlorite) is a chemical compound that releases chlorine for disinfection and bleaching. Chlorine is the elemental gas.
Not in its pure gaseous form due to high reactivity. It's found abundantly in nature as chloride ions in salt (sodium chloride) in seawater and mineral deposits.
A chemical element (symbol Cl) with atomic number 17, a highly reactive, toxic, greenish-yellow gas of the halogen group.
Chlorine is usually technical / academic / everyday (in contexts of cleaning/swimming pools) in register.
Chlorine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːriːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːriːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for 'chlorine']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHLORine in the POOL – both have 'O's and 'L's.
Conceptual Metaphor
PURITY IS CLEANLINESS (Chlorine is a tool to achieve purity by killing impurities).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary everyday use of chlorine?