Chloride

Chloride is an ion of chlorine. It occurs when chlorine gets reduced, gaining an electrons and becoming an ion. Chloride is necessary for life. It is normally found in the salt (sodium chloride), which is very common in diets.

"Chloride" is also used as a general name for chemical compounds containing chlorine in the -1 oxidation state, whether or not they contain a chloride ion. Most compounds containing chlorine are chlorides in this sense. The main exception is if chlorine is bonded to oxygen or fluorine.

Related pages
Fluoride
Bromide
Iodide

Chlorides