chlorine

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the chemical element with atomic number 17, a toxic greenish-yellow halogen gas in its elemental form

   A sharp smell of chlorine lingered near the laboratory bench.

2. 2
   noun

   a chlorine-containing substance used to bleach materials or disinfect water

   The pool attendant tested the chlorine before allowing anyone into the water.

Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1810 from Ancient Greek khlōros ("pale green, greenish yellow") + the chemical suffix -ine, after the element's characteristic color. Davy introduced the name while arguing that the gas was an element rather than an oxygen compound.

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