#chlorate

Chlorine reacts with water to form two acids:

hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Chloric (1) acid (HClO)

Cl2 + H2O <--> HCl + HClO

The oxidation state of chlorine is -1 in HCl but +1 in HClO

This means it is a disproportionation reaction, as chlorine is both oxidised and reduced.

Water Treatment

High levels of micro-organisms in water can cause outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.

Chloric acid ionises to form H+ ions and chlorate ions (ClO-)

chloric acid is better at killing micro-organisms than chlorate ions, so the pH should be kept below 8 to ensure a high concentration

Problems with using chlorine

Chlorine is a toxic gas

it can react with organic molecules in the water to form chlorinated hydrocarbons, which could be dangerous to humans, but there is insufficient evidence to support this link

Chlorine and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

cold, dilute sodium hydroxide --> sodium chloride, sodium chlorate and water

another disproportionation

sodium chlorate is used in bleach

Here is the summary of food alerts issued by Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) last week. On 09/05/2014, inadequate thermal processing was detected in plum bread & butter pudding from the United Kingdom. The product was distributed to United Kingdom, Ireland. RASFF reference No.:...

GERMANY – Dujardin Foods GmbH is recalling Greenland Broccoli tiefgefroren, REWE Beste Wahl Broccoliröschen and Tiefkühl-Brokkoliröschen Real because an exceeded levels of chlorate have been detected during routine control. Therefore the products may pose a health risk. The products were di...