Chlorine

By John Emsley2015-09-09T00:00:00

John Emsley investigates the halogen we love to hate, but can’t live without

Not completely benign, but not entirely sinister. Since being produced by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774, chlorine has left an ambidextrous mark on the world. Our relationship with it is complicated to say the least.

John Emsley investigates the halogen we love to hate, but can’t live without, discussing its use in bleach, swimming pools and PVC, as well as the toxic issues it could cause.

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