Chlorine dioxide, or ClO2, Is an inorganic chemical compoundelement Cl (chlorine) with a chemical element O (oxygen). In this article, we will take a very detailed look at this substance, as well as find out where it is used, how it is obtained in laboratories and industry, how it acts on the body.
Many students are lost at the sight of the word "dioxide",because in such a science as chemistry, this concept is already a little outdated. The word "dioxide" can still be found in textbooks, books and on the Internet, but some schools have already stopped explaining what it is.
So, we all know what an oxide is. Oxide is an oxygen compound (O) with any other less electronegative chemical element. The oxide is ClO2. Dioxide is also called a compound in which there are two O atoms. The prefix "di" in the word "dioxide" means "two".
If you hear the word "dioxide", then in this connection there are two oxygen atoms. This will help you to correctly write down the chemical formula of the compound.
Chlorine dioxide is a gaseous substance,which has a characteristic smell, as well as the color of the red-yellow color. But at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius the substance changes its aggregate state and turns into a liquid of a red-brown color. He explodes when heated. Very good and quickly dissolves in water. It mixes very well and dissolves in some organic solvents, such as acetic and sulfuric acids. The melting point of the substance is -59 degrees Celsius, and its boiling point is only 9.7 degrees Celsius.
To date, only one method of obtaining chlorine dioxide in the laboratory is used - by reacting potassium chlorate (KClO3) with oxalic acid, which has the formula H2FROM2ABOUT4. As a result of this reaction, ClO2, as well as water and sodium oxalate.
However, to obtain ClO2 you can and in another way.For this there is a special installation. The installation of chlorine dioxide is a useful scientific model. Such an installation includes a control unit, a reactor, pumps for transferring various reagents to the reactor, as well as various valves and valves. To obtain ClO2 Use sulfuric acid, solutions of sodium chloride and sodium chlorate. As a result, a solution of chlorine dioxide is obtained.
ClO2 scientists have learned to receive and in an industrial way.For this, a reduction reaction is carried out in which sodium chlorate is reduced with sulfur dioxide. As a result of the reaction, chlorine dioxide is isolated, the production of which we achieved, as well as sodium hydrogen sulfate.
Chlorine dioxide has several important chemical properties. ClO2 is an acidic oxide (it showsacid properties, and also forms acidic acids). When dissolving chlorine dioxide in water, a disproportionation reaction occurs, that is, acids such as chloric and chloride are formed. If the chlorine oxide itself explodes in the light, its solutions are completely stable in the dark, and do not explode in the light, but decompose very slowly.
ClO2 in many reactions behaves as a medium-strength oxidizer, reacts with very many compounds of organic chemistry.
Chlorine dioxide, the use of which is quitespread around the world, is now the most popular. Most often this substance acts as a bleach. Chlorine oxide is used, in particular, for bleaching materials such as paper, flour, etc.
In addition, the ClO substance2 is considered to be one of the strongest chemistsantimicrobial agents all over the world. That is why it is very often used for sterilization, as well as disinfection of various materials. It kills pathogens by oxidation, due to the fact that it is an average oxidizer. Chlorine dioxide, the use of which has increased due to the acid property, is now an indispensable substance.
This substance is indispensable in the industry precisely because there are quite a few substances that disinfect materials economically and environmentally safe. Disinfection with ClO2 absolutely safe for our environment.To this day, use gaseous, as well as liquid Cl for sterilization and disinfection of water. But recently, due to environmental problems, use the safest disinfector - chlorine dioxide. Unlike the pure chlorine substance, ClO known to us2 does not enter into chlorination reactions with other substances and chemical elements.
Water, disinfected with chlorine, can not onlydrink, but also used to wash skin areas. But chlorine dioxide helped to solve this problem: it is completely safe, since it does not participate in the chlorination reaction.
Chlorine dioxide, its effect on the body is studiedscientists for several decades. Now this chemical is actively used in the food industry, as an additive E926. Unfortunately, many E supplements are very harmful, and ordinary people, consumers of products, little is known about them. Some additives, however, are harmless, but there are especially dangerous. Chlorine dioxide can be supplied in the middle: it is harmful to the human body, it is undesirable, but this chemical does not have strong side effects on the human body, unlike popular today's sodium glutamate.
When eating food with the content of this additivecan appear cough, sometimes quite strong and prolonged, irritation of mucous membranes, asthmatic attacks. If this substance enters the respiratory tract, irritation of the lungs may occur.
Chlorine dioxide is a very interesting substance,which scientists have been studying for many centuries. It is indispensable in industry, especially in food, is environmentally friendly and safe (of course, only with proper use).
