The odor threshold for chlorine is between 0.02 and 0.2 ppm. The presence of moisture in gaseous and liquid chlorine increases corrosive attack on most common metals. Will react with water or steam to produce toxic and corrosive fumes of hydrogen chloride. Chlorine is a powerful oxidizing agent which reacts violently with a variety of substances over a broad range of conditions including reducing agents and combustible materials. It should be kept away from materials such as acetylene, turpentine, other hydrocarbons, ammonia, hydrocarbons, certain metal hydrides, nitrides, oxides, sulfides, phosphides, easily oxidized materials, organic materials, hydrogen, ether, powdered metals, sulfur, and aluminum.
Chlorine reacts with hydrogen sulfide and water forming hydrochloric acid.
It combines with carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide to form phosgene and sulfuryl chloride, respectively, which are toxic and corrosive substances. Chlorine is stable in steel containers at room temperature when dry. Intense local heat on steel walls can cause the steel to react and glow in presence of chlorine. At exposures of 3 and 9 ppm changes in the liver and kidneys were also noted. Rabbits and guinea pigs exposed to 1.7 ppm for 9 months showed weight loss and a decreased resistance to disease.