Where is chloride found in nature

They are all in the second column from the right on the periodic table in Group Their electron configurations are similar, with seven electrons in their outer shell.

They are highly reactive elements; when bonded with hydrogen, they produce acids. None are found in nature in their elemental form, according to Purdue University. They are typically found as salts in minerals. In fact, probably the most known form of a chlorine compound is sodium chloride, otherwise known as table salt.

Other compounds include potassium chloride, which is used to prevent or treat low potassium levels in the blood, and magnesium chloride, which is used to prevent or treat magnesium deficiency. Most chlorine is made via electrolysis of sodium chloride solutions — using an electric current to create a chemical reaction, according to the University of York.

The process separates the elements. Chlorine has caused quite a stir among researchers over the years because of certain harmful effects it may have on human health. Those effects, however, remain debatable. Chlorine is one of the atoms in a toxin that some South American frogs have in their skin. It can paralyze or even kill large animals, according to the American Chemistry Council.

Natives of the Colombian tropical rainforest used to rub the tips of their arrows on the skin of these " poison-dart frogs. However, by rearranging the compound on the atomic level, chemists hope they can eventually find a version that is a potent pain reliever.

Previous research has linked drinking chlorinated water to an increased cancer risk. The vast deposits of salt created during millions of years of continental upheaval and slow evaporation of the ancient Lake Bonneville are mined on the shores of the present-day Great Salt Lake. Through elaborate extraction procedures, the various chloride salts can be separated. Some of this salt ends up on your french fries NaCl , and some you throw on your sidewalk in the winter CaCl 2. The MgCl 2 is electrolyzed to produce Mg 0 , a lightweight metal used in the auto industry.

Of course, the by-product of magnesium production is elemental chlorine, which can be responsibly used for all of the above-mentioned health and manufacturing applications. The dark side of Cl 2 production is that too much of it is released directly into the atmosphere. Magnesium Corp. A little bit of chlorine is a great way to kill bacteria, but higher concentrations turn Dr. Jekyll to Mr. More than twice as dense as air, chlorine can settle to the ground as it did in Ypres, France, in April , accounting for thousands of fatalities.

Responsible use of chlorine will ensure its continued applications toward improvement of human health and lifestyle without waging war on the environment. She and her family enjoy camping and rockhounding in Utah's mineral-rich West Desert.

Name: From the Greek khloros, greenish yellow. Effects also depend on the health of a person or condition of the environment when exposure occurs. Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time adversely affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs. Chlorine irritates the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory system. These effects are not likely to occur at levels of chlorine that are normally found in the environment.

Human health effects associated with breathing or otherwise consuming small amounts of chlorine over long periods of time are not known. Some studies show that workers develop adverse effects from repeat inhalation exposure to chlorine, but others will not. Chlorine dissolves when mixed with water. It can also escape from water and enter air under certain conditions. Most direct releases of chlorine to the environment are to air and to surface water.

Once in air or in water, chlorine reacts with other chemicals. It combines with inorganic material in water to form chloride salts, and with organic material in water to form chlorinated organic chemicals.

Because of its reactivity chlorine is not likely to move through the ground and enter groundwater. Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorine. However, laboratory studies show that repeat exposure to chlorine in air can affect the immune system, the blood, the heart, and the respiratory system of animals. Chlorine causes environmental harm at low levels.

Chlorine is especially harmful to organisms living in water and in soil. More info about the effects of gases such as chlorine in freshwater ecosystems. Recommended daily intake of chlorine. More from 'Elements'. Toggle navigation.