Anda di halaman 1dari 2

Both chlorine and bromine are used as disinfectants for drinking water,

swimming pools and surfaces. They kill bacteria and other potentially harmful
microorganisms through sterilization.
Sodium chloride is an important raw material found as 'rock salt' or in seawater.
Purified sodium chloride is used directly for food flavouring and food
preservation. Table salt is produced by evaporating purified brine solution. Rock
salt is used for deicing roads. Raw rock salt can be used directly on roads to
melt ice and stop ice forming in the first place because dissolved salts lower the
freezing point of water. The rock salt is mixed with grit to give better tyre grip on
icy roads.
The sodium hydroxide and chlorine can be chemically combined at room
temperature to make the household bleach, sodium chlorate. This is used in
some domestic cleaning agents; it chemically scours and chemically kills
microorganisms.
Sodium hypochlorite, which is produced from chlorine, is the active ingredient of
most fabric bleaches.
Organic chlorine compounds are used as pesticides, including the now mainly
banned DDT.
Chlorine is used in making CFC refrigerant gases/liquids but their production and
use are being reduced. They break down in the upper atmosphere and the
chlorine atoms catalyse the destruction of ozone which absorbs harmful UV
radiation.
Chlorine and ethene are used to make a chemical called chloroethene, this is
then converted into the polymer polychloroethene or PVC.
Silver chloride, silver bromide and silver iodide are all sensitive to light
('photosensitive'), and all three are used in the production of various types
of photographic film used to detect visible light.
Each silver halide salt has a different sensitivity to light.
Silver bromide and silver iodide are sensitive to light and are used
in photographic film. Silver bromide is almost white, and when light falls on it,
it splits up into silver metal and bromine. The silver metal appears as a black
mark on the film, producing a black and white negative.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are organic chemicals that were used as refrigerants
and propellants in aerosols before growing concerns about their possible
environmental impact led to their discontinued use. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HFCs) are now used instead. Fluoride is also added to toothpaste and drinking
water to help reduce tooth decay. It has been shown that fluorides can reduce
dental decay, especially in young children.
Bromine is used in flame retardants because of its fire-resistant properties. It also
found in the pesticide methyl bromide, which facilitates the storage of crops and
eliminates the spread of bacteria. However, the excessive use of methyl bromide
has been discontinued due to its impact on the ozone layer.

Iodine is also used as an antiseptic. Solutions used to clean open wounds likely
contain iodine, and it is commonly found in disinfectant sprays. Potassium iodide
is added to table salt to prevent a lack of iodine in the diet. Iodine is important in
the proper functioning of the thyroid gland of the body. If the body does not
receive adequate iodine, goitre (enlarged thyroid gland) will form as thyroid
hormones cannot be produced, which leads to a condition called hypothyroidism,
entailing many ailments.

Anda mungkin juga menyukai