Chloramine
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHL : Chloramine
| Chloramine | |
|---|---|
| Systematic name | Chloroazane |
| Other names | Monochloramine Chloramide |
| Molecular formula | NH2Cl |
| Molar mass | 51.48 g/mol |
| CAS number | [10599-90-3] |
| Appearance | yellow liquid |
| Density | ? g/cm3 |
| Solubility (water) | Soluble |
| Melting point | -66 °C |
| Boiling point | ? °C |
| Related compounds | Dichloramine Nitrogen trichloride |
| [Chemical infoboxDisclaimer and references] | |
Chloramine (monochloramine) is a toxic substance (NH2Cl) created by the chemical reaction of ammonia and sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) under alkaline conditions. It is a yellow liquid at room temperature. It is commonly used in low concentrations as a disinfectant in municipal water systems as an alternative to chlorination.
Chloramine use by water purification plants is increasing. Chlorine (sometimes referred to as Free Chlorine) is being phased out in favor of chloramine because chloramine is much more stable and doesn't dissipate from the water before it reaches consumers. There is also less tendency to form halomethanes such as chloroform and carbon tetrachloride in the presence of organic materials that would normally form the relatively harmless (at expected concentrations) hydrocarbon gas methane. Such compounds have been identified as carcinogens and in 1979 the EPA began regulating their levels in U.S. drinking water, with a current limit of 80 μg/L. Furthermore, water treated with chloramine lacks the distinct chlorine odor of the gaseous treatment and so has improved taste.
Aquarium owners must remove the chloramine from their tap water because it is toxic to fish. Aging the water for a few days removes chlorine but not the more stable chloramine, which can be neutralised using products available at pet stores.
Just like chlorine, chloramine must be removed from the water prior to use in kidney dialysis machines, as it would come in contact with the bloodstream across a permeable membrane. However, since chloramine is neutralized by the digestive process, kidney dialysis patients can still safely drink chloramine-treated water.
Home brewers use chemicals such as Sodium metabisulfite to remove chloramine from brewing liquor as it, unlike chlorine, cannot be removed by boiling.
Dichloramine (NHCl2) and nitrogen trichloride (NCl3) can be produced by lowering the pH and adjusting the molar ratios of the reactants to favor their formation.
External links
- [Chlorine and chloramines in the freshwater aquarium]
- [Chloramine FAQ from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission]
- ["Chlorinated drinking water", IARC Monograph (1991)]
- [EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels]
- For a full list of external links to MSDSs, spectroscopic data, commercial chemicals suppliers etc. for this compound, see [Chemical sources].
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