Chlorinates

Chlorinates refers to substances or processes that involve the introduction of chlorine into a molecule or substrate. In chemistry, chlorination is the reaction of adding chlorine to a molecule or substituting a hydrogen atom with chlorine. The resulting products are called chlorinated compounds, which span a wide range of inorganic and organic species.

Chlorination can proceed by various mechanisms, including free radical substitution with chlorine gas under heat or light, or electrophilic chlorination of unsaturated substrates. In water treatment and disinfection, chlorine reagents such as chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite, or calcium hypochlorite are used to chlorinate water and organic matter present, forming a variety of chlorinated byproducts.

Common examples of chlorinated organic compounds include alkyl chlorides such as chloromethane and chloroform; aryl chlorides such as chlorobenzene; and vinyl chlorides such as vinyl chloride, the monomer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Inorganic chlorides include metal chlorides such as sodium chloride, iron(III) chloride, and aluminum chloride. Chlorination is also used to form polymers like PVC and to produce solvents and reagents used in organic synthesis.

Safety and environmental concerns arise because many chlorinated compounds are toxic, persistent in the environment, or form disinfection byproducts when used in water treatment. Regulation and risk assessment guide their production, handling, and disposal. Related topics include chlorination, disinfection byproducts, and organochlorines.