Uses Chlorine is widely used in many different areas. It is used in the production of safe drinking water and many consumer products such as paper, dyestuffs, textiles, petroleum products, medicines, antiseptics, insecticides, foodstuffs, solvents, paints and plastics. It is also used to produce chlorates, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and bromine. A further substantial use for this element is in organic chemistry, both as an oxidising agent and in substitution reactions. The chloride ion is essential to life.
Chlorine gas is a respiratory irritant, which can be fatal after a few deep breaths.
It was used as a war gas in 1915. Chlorine liquid burns the skin.