Chlorine and Chlorine Molecule

**Symbol:** Cl

**Atomic number:** 17

**International title:** Chlorine

**General formula:** Cl₂

**Relative Atomic Weight:** 35,453

**Information:** Chlorine is a toxic, yellow-green gas and form a two-atom molecule as well as other halogens.

**Use:** It is used as a raw material in the chemical industry (mainly in the production of plastics, insecticides, hydrochloric acid). Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water and to produce disinfectants (eg. bleach).

**Occurrence:** On Earth, chlorine occurs only in the form of compounds. The most important chlorine mineral is halite or NaCl cooking salt. Chlorine is a biogenic element.