CHLORINE

chlorine, Cl, atomic number

(noun) a common nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; best known as a heavy yellow irritating toxic gas; used to purify water and as a bleaching agent and disinfectant; occurs naturally only as a salt (as in sea water)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

chlorine (usually uncountable, plural chlorines)

A toxic, green, gaseous chemical element (symbol Cl) with an atomic number of 17.

Synonym: E925 (when used as a food additive)

Hypernym: halogen

(countable) A single atom of this element.

Source: Wiktionary

Chlo"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. Yellow.] (Chem.)

Definition: One of the elementary substances, commonly isolated as a greenish yellow gas, two and one half times as heavy as air, of an intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and exceedingly poisonous. It is abundant in nature, the most important compound being common salt. It is powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent. Symbol Cl. Atomic weight, 35.4. Chlorine family, the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, called the halogens, and classed together from their common peculiariries.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition