Chlorine belongs to p-block of periodic table. Chlorine is a very powerful oxidizing agent.

1. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF
CHLORINE
CHAPTER 04 XII CHEMISTRY
SIDRA JAVED

2. Chemical reactions of chlorine
The chemical reactions of chlorine are of following types:
1. Oxidation reactions
2. Addition reactions
3. Substitution reaction
4. Auto oxidation - reduction reactions

3. Oxidation Reactions
Cl2 is a strong oxidizing agent
Due to high electronegativity it readily gains electrons and
become negatively charged
Cl2 + 2e- → 2Cl-

4. Oxidation Reactions
Cl2 readily oxidizes other metals and nonmetals
Zn + Cl2 → ZnCl2
Cu + Cl2 → CuCl2
2P + 5Cl2 → 2PCl5
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl

5. Addition Reactions
Cl2 directly combines with certain compounds to give
addition products
CH2=CH2 + Cl2 → CH2Cl-CH2Cl
CO + Cl2 → COCl2
SO2 + Cl2 → SO2Cl2

6. Substitution Reactions
Cl2 replaces one or more atoms from other compounds
H2S + Cl2 → 2HCl + S
2KI + Cl2 → 2KCl + I2
CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
CH3Cl + Cl2 → CH2Cl2 + HCl

7. Auto Oxidation and Reduction
Reactions
Cl2 reacts with water to form Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
In this reaction Cl2 is oxidized as well as reduced.
Cl2
o + H2O → H+Cl- + H+O-2Cl+
Such reactions are called auto oxidation reduction reactions

8. Chlorine water
Solution of chlorine in water is a strong oxidizing agent
In this solution HOCl act as oxidising agent due to +1
oxidation state of Cl
Bleaching action of Chlorine is due to same reason. Cl2 forms
HOCl with water which then oxidizes colored compound to
colorless less compound.

9. Importance of Chlorine
❏ Manufacture of organic solvents such as CCl4 , CHCl3 etc
❏ Manufacture of vinyl chloride which is used in preparation of plastics
(PVC)
❏ Used in preparation of Pesticides such as DDT,
Hexachlorocyclohexane
❏ Manufacturing of synthetic rubber
❏ Used as a bleaching agent for cotton, rayon, wood pulp etc.
❏ Used in sterilization of drinking water
❏ Used in layer test for detection of halogens.