Chlorine - ₁₇Cl: reactions of elements

Reaction of chlorine with air

Although chlorine oxides are known, chlorine, Cl₂ is not reactive towards with oxygen, O₂, or nitrogen, N₂.

Reaction of chlorine with water

Chlorine, Cl₂, reacts with water to produce hypochlorite, OCl^-. The position of the equilibrium depends very much upon the pH of the solution.

Cl₂(g) + H₂O(l) ⇌ OCl^-(aq) + 2H⁺(aq) + Cl^-(aq)

Reaction of chlorine with the halogens

Fluorine, F₂, reacts with chlorine, Cl₂, at 225°C to form the interhalogen species ClF. The trifluoride chlorine(III) fluoride is also formed and the reaction does not go to completion.

Cl₂(g) + F₂(g) → 2ClF(g)

Cl₂(g) + 3F₂(g) → 2ClF₃(g)

Under more forcing conditions, excess fluorine reacts with chlorine, Cl₂, at 350°C and 225 atmospheres pressure to form the interhalogen species ClF₅.

Cl₂(g) + 5F₂(g) → 2ClF₅(g)

Chlorine, Cl₂, reacts with bromine, Br₂, in the gas phase to form the unstable interhalogen species bromine(I) chloride, ClBr.

Cl₂(g) + Br₂(g) → 2ClBr(g)

Similarly, chlorine, Cl₂, reacts with iodine, I₂, at room temperature to form the interhalogen species iodine(I) chloride, ClI.

Cl₂(g) + I₂(g) → 2ICl(s)

Reaction of chlorine with acids

Reaction of chlorine with bases

Chlorine, Cl₂, reacts with hot aqueous alkali to produce chlorate, ClO₃^-. Only one sixth of the total chlorine is converted in this reaction.

3Cl₂(g) + 6OH^-(aq) → ClO₃^-(aq) + 5Cl^-(aq) + 3H₂O