Kloriioni

Kloriioni is the term used in some languages for the chloride ion, the inorganic anion with the formula Cl−. It is the conjugate base of hydrochloric acid and occurs widely in chemistry and biology as part of many salts.

Chloride ion carries a single negative charge and is typically colorless and highly soluble in water. In solution, Cl− is relatively inert under ordinary conditions and forms salts with most metals and many organic compounds. The ionic radius of chloride is about 1.8 angstroms.

Chloride is abundant in nature, especially in seawater and in rock salts such as halite. Industrially, chloride ions are derived from brine and are central to the chlor-alkali industry, where electrolysis of brine produces chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide; chloride ions remain in solution and in salt forms used in chemical manufacturing.

In biology, chloride is an essential electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, osmolarity, and acid-base homeostasis. It participates in gastric acid formation as chloride in hydrochloric acid and contributes to the chloride shift in red blood cells. It is also widely used in food, medicine, and industry as sodium chloride and other chloride salts.

High exposures to concentrated chloride compounds can be irritant and corrosive. While common dietary salt is safe at typical levels, excessive intake is linked to health risks, and chlorine gas or other reactive chloride compounds can be hazardous if mishandled.

Related topics include chlorine, hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, and electrolytes.