The key difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide is that the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine or chlorine gas is zero whereas the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine dioxide is +4. Further, the physical difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide is that the chlorine is a pale yellow-green gas with a pungent, irritating odor while the chlorine dioxide is a yellow to reddish gas with an acrid odor.
Both chlorine and chlorine dioxide are gaseous compounds. They have different chemical and physical properties and thus, different applications. Since chlorine is a group 7 chemical element, the most common oxidation state of it is -1. However, the chlorine atom in chlorine dioxide has the +4 oxidation state.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference 2. What is Chlorine 3. What is Chlorine Dioxide 4. Side by Side Comparison – Chlorine vs Chlorine Dioxide in Tabular Form 6. Summary
What is Chlorine?
Chlorine is a gaseous compound having the chemical formula Cl2. It is a pale yellow-green gas at room temperature and pressure. It acts as an extremely reactive agent, thus, is a strong oxidizing agent. Moreover, it has a pungent, irritating odor. This odor is similar to bleach. The IUPAC name of this gas is “molecular chlorine”.
The molar mass of chlorine gas is 70.9 g/mol. The two chlorine atoms in this molecule are covalently bonded to each other. We call it a “diatomic gas” because there are two atoms linked to each other per one molecule. The inhalation of this gas is toxic and it is also an irritant to the eye. The gas is slightly soluble in water and can liquefy at -35◦C. However, we can readily liquefy this gas by applying an appropriate pressure at room temperature. Moreover, this gas is not flammable, but it can support the combustion.
More importantly, this gas is toxic if we inhale it. The chlorine gas is heavier than normal air. Thus it tends to collect at lower areas of the atmosphere. The melting and boiling points are -101°C and -35°C respectively. It is useful as a disinfectant in many industries, for water treatment, to make war gases, etc.
What is Chlorine Dioxide?
Chlorine dioxide is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula ClO2. It is a yellow to reddish gas. This gas crystallizes at −59°C which appears as orange-coloured crystals. This is a common oxide of chlorine. The molar mass is 67.45 g/mol. It has an acrid odor. The melting and boiling points are −59°C and 11°C respectively. This is a neutral compound and is very different from elemental chlorine. It has a very high water solubility. Especially it can dissolve in cold water. The solubility is about 10 times higher than chlorine gas. Moreover, it does not hydrolyze when we dissolve it in water. Therefore, it remains as a dissolved gas in water. The oxidation state of chlorine atom in this molecule is +4. Since this molecule has an odd number of electrons, it is paramagnetic.
The major applications of this gas include in bleaching wood pulp, in elemental chlorine free bleaching purposes, drinking water treatments, as a fumigant treatment, etc.
What is the Difference Between Chlorine and Chlorine Dioxide?
Chlorine is a gaseous compound having the chemical formula Cl2. On the other hand, chlorine dioxide is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula ClO2. The melting and boiling points of chlorine gas are very low compared to chlorine dioxide. More importantly, chlorine dioxide is highly water soluble; it dissolves even in cold water. This solubility is about 10 times higher than that of chlorine gas. Both these compounds derive from chlorine element. The key difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide is that the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine gas is zero whereas the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine dioxide is +4.
The below infographic presents more details on the difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide in tabular form.
Summary – Chlorine vs Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorine and chlorine dioxide are gaseous compounds at room temperature and pressure. The difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide is that the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine gas is zero whereas the oxidation state of chlorine atom in chlorine dioxide is +4.
Reference:
1. “Chlorine.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.Available here 2. “Chlorine Dioxide.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Aug. 2018. Available here
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What is the difference between chlorine and chlorine dioxide
chlorine dioxide
Chlorine dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula ClO2 that exists as yellowish-green gas above 11 °C, a reddish-brown liquid between 11 °C and −59 °C, and as bright orange crystals below −59 °C. It is usually handled as an aqueous solution.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Chlorine_dioxide
? Unlike chlorine, CD is non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic, and relatively non-irritating. CD does not form hydrochloric acid when exposed to water as does chlorine. It also does not combine with organics to form carcinogenic chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Chlorine and chlorine dioxide are both oxidizing agents, meaning they remove electrons from other compounds during chemical reactions. But whereas chlorine has the capacity to take in two electrons, chlorine dioxide has the capacity to absorb five in highly acidic environments.
Chlorine Dioxide has a higher oxidation capacity, and a lower oxidation strength than most species of chlorine, making it at least 2.6 times more powerful per ppm according to WHO CT values.
Chlorine dioxide contains chlorine and oxygen.Sodium chloride contains sodium,chlorine and oxygen. There are also sodium chlorate with more oxygen and sodium perchlorate with still more oxygen.
Chloride is the ion generated when a chlorine atom gains an electron. It has the chemical formula Cl-1. Chlorite is a polyatomic ion with the formula ClO2 -1. Two oxygen atoms share electrons with the chlorine atom and the electron arrangement results in a charged particle.
While chlorine dioxide is safely used to disinfect drinking water, it is used in extremely small amounts. The doses used in supplements can cause serious side effects, including severe vomiting, liver failure, and death.
The EPA has set the maximum concentration in the drinking water at 0.8 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for chlorine dioxide and 1.0 mg/L for chlorite ion. The concentrations of chlorine dioxide and chlorite ion in your drinking water, however, may be lower or higher than these levels.
Most administered chlorine dioxide and its metabolites remain in plasma followed by kidneys, lungs, stomach, intestine, liver, and spleen. About 43% of orally administered chlorine dioxide is eliminated in the urine and feces within 72 h.
Chlorine dioxide kills pathogens by a chemical process known as oxidation. It breaks down walls of microbes, effectively disintegrating them. Oxidized organic molecules cease to perform their functions and when the damage is widespread, death of the organism is inevitable.
Chlorine dioxide can be effectively used to disinfect drinking water without much alteration of palatability and can also be used to destroy pathogenic microbes, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi from vegetables and fruits.
Calcium-Hypochlorite, also known as Cal-Hypo, is one of the most-used pool sanitizing solutions. This solution has a long shelf life, works optimally in fresh water pools, and is a popular type of chlorine to balance pools. Cal-Hypo commonly comes in bags or a tub.
Virtually all rocks contain chlorine. Chlorine even occurs occurs in alkaline magmas. One of the most common minerals containing chlorine is common salt, which is sodium chloride, NaCl.
The strength of these chemicals is the main difference that abounds between them. Chlorine is the stronger chemical. When applied, a higher amount of bleach is needed to increase the chlorine level of water to the needed point while a lesser amount of chlorine would be used.
Some of the common applications for chlorine dioxide as water treatment include water treatment for industrial processes, the disinfection of sewage water, and the disinfection of cooling tower water. For homeowners, chlorine dioxide is commonly used to disinfect outdoor swimming pools.
It is an ideal replacement for chlorine, providing all of the benefits of chlorine and more, but without any of its weaknesses and detriments. Chlorine dioxide is a broad spectrum biocide with 2.6 times the oxidizing capacity of chlorine. It is a selective oxidizer that is effective across a broad pH range.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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