Chemistry Sectors: Chlorine & Halogens
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Chlorine is in fact a halogen element, together with fluorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. These were given the name halogen from the Greek roots hal- (“salt”) and gen (“to produce”), because they all produce sodium salts of similar properties. The best known is sodium chloride or table salt. Whereas fluorine is the most abundant of the halogens in the Earth’s crust, chlorine is also one of the most common elements in nature. More than 4,000 natural organohalogens have been identified, of which more than 2,400 are naturally occuring chlorine compounds. Key natural sources of organochlorines are the oceans, forest fires, volcanoes and living organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and marine organisms. Chlorinated compounds are also found in our blood, skin and teeth and, as hydrochloric acid, in our digestive system.
Many chemicals, plastics and medicines use chlorine during the manufacturing process, although the end product is chlorine-free. Chlorine is used in a vast range of processes to create thousands of indispensable products that serve our everyday needs. Its uses range from medicines and water purification to construction and public safety (in the form of protective equipment for police officers and fire fighters). Almost all of Western European drinking water is made safe with the help of chlorine, which disinfects right up to the tap. And 85% of medicines, including many life-saving drugs, are synthesised using chlorine chemistry.
Fluorine is mainly found in a mineral called fluorspar which is sometimes known as fluorite. It is a naturally occurring mineral which could contain up to 45% calcium fluoride. After the reaction of dry fluorspar with sulphuric acid, hydrogen fluoride gas is formed. This latter is used as such or transformed in various applications like fluorocarbons production, metallurgic industry, petroleum production, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, detergents, glass and ceramic industry.
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Want to know more? Find out about the associations representing specific areas of this sector:
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COMITE TECHNIQUE EUROPEEN DU FLUOR (CTEF) |
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EURO CHLOR |
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EUROPEAN FLUOROCARBON TECHNICAL COMMITTEE (EFCTC) |
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FLUORSPAR |
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GLOBAL FLUOROCARBON PRODUCERS' FORUM (GFPF) |
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