Element 17

Chlorine (Cl)

Halogen · Period 3 · Group 17 · p-block

Chlorine (Cl) is element 17 of the periodic table, a halogen in period 3, group 17 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 35.45 and is a gas at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
17
Symbol
Cl
Atomic mass
35.45 u
Category
Halogens
Period
3
Group
17
Block
p-block
Phase at STP
gas

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
Shorthand configuration
[Ne] 3s2 3p5
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 7
Oxidation states
-1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7

Physical properties

Melting point
171.6 K
Boiling point
239.11 K
Density
0.003214 g/cm3
Phase
gas

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
3.16
Atomic radius
79 pm
Covalent radius
102 pm
Van der Waals radius
175 pm
First ionization energy
1251 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
349 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Cl-3534.9688575.76%Stable

Common uses

  • Water treatment
  • PVC plastic
  • Disinfectants
  • Bleach

Discovery

Year
1774
Discovered by
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Country
Sweden

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