Chlorine dioxide: formula, application. Effects of chlorine dioxide on the body

Chlorine dioxide, or ClO ₂ , is an inorganic compound of the chemical element Cl (chlorine) with the 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.

What is dioxide? Difference between dioxide and oxide

Many pupils are lost at a sight of a word "dioxide" because in such science, as chemistry, this concept is already a little bit out of date. 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. Oxide is also ClO ₂ . 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 write down the chemical formula of the compound correctly.

Physical properties of the substance

Chlorine dioxide is a gaseous substance that has a characteristic odor, as well as a 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.

Preparation by laboratory method

To date, only one method of obtaining chlorine dioxide in the laboratory is used - by reacting potassium chlorate (KClO ₃ ) with oxalic acid, which has the formula H ₂ C ₂ O ₄ . This reaction liberates ClO ₂ , as well as water and sodium oxalate.

However, it is possible to obtain ClO _{2 in} another way. For this there is a special installation. Installing 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 produce ClO ₂ , sulfuric acid, solutions of sodium chloride and sodium chlorate are used. As a result, a solution of chlorine dioxide is obtained.

Production by industrial method

ClO ₂ scientists learned how to receive and industrialized. 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 extracted, the preparation of which we have achieved, as well as sodium hydrogen sulphate.

Chemical properties of the substance

Chlorine dioxide has several important chemical properties. ClO ₂ is an acidic oxide (it exhibits acidic 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.

ClO ₂ behaves in many reactions as a medium-strength oxidizer, reacts with very many compounds of organic chemistry.

Application

Chlorine dioxide, the use of which is quite common 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 substance ClO ₂ is considered by chemists to be one of the most powerful antimicrobial agents in the world. That is why it is very often used for sterilization, as well as disinfection of various materials. It kills pathogenic microbes 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 few substances that disinfect materials economically and environmentally safe. Disinfection with the use of ClO _{2 is} 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 substance of chlorine, ClO ₂ known to us does not enter into chlorination reactions with other substances and chemical elements.

Water, disinfected with chlorine, you can not only drink, but also use to wash the skin areas. But chlorine dioxide helped to solve this problem: it is completely safe, because it does not participate in the chlorination reaction.

Effects of chlorine dioxide on the body

Chlorine dioxide, its effect on the body is studied by scientists 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 additive may 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 that scientists have been studying for centuries. It is indispensable in industry, especially in food, is environmentally friendly and safe (of course, only with proper use).