The chlorine is dried, compressed, and liquefied for shipping and storage. Although the hydrogen can be compressed and stored in cylinders, the commercial value of hydrogen in not sufficient to warrant this. The hydrogen is usually burned at the electrolysis plant to provide the thermal energy used to evaporate water from the sodium hydroxide solution. At room temperature, chlorine is a yellow-green gas. It has a piercing, irritating odor, and is caustic to mucous membranes such as the eyes and lungs.
Gaseous chlorine reacts with hydrocarbons to form chlorinated hydrocarbons.
The last three of these products are important solvents in the chemical industry. 2 -CHCl n . Polyvinyl chloride is used extensively for piping and plumbing, raincoats, shower curtains, magnetic tape, flooring, and electrical wire insulation. A saturated solution at 25 C is 12M in HCl. It is very soluble in water.