The element, with an atomic number of 117, sits in the same group as chlorine (group 17 on Mendeleev’s Periodic Table) and is one of four elements which now complete period seven. These four new elements are the first to be added to the periodic table since 2011 when elements 114 and 116 were officially recognised. Chlorine belongs to group 17 in the table.It is a group of halogens.Chlorine has atomic number 17 as well. Is chlorine in group VI of the periodic table? No, it is in group 17. In the case of Chlorine the group number is 17. However there is a lot of funny facts about Chlorine that most people don't know. Shall we have a look?

Chlorine Element Table
- Group 17: Physical Properties of the Halogens
- It can be seen that there is a regular increase in many of the properties of the halogens proceeding down group 17 from fluorine to iodine. This includes their melting points, boiling points, intensity of their color, the radius of the corresponding halide ion, and the density of the element. On the other hand, there is a regular decrease in the first ionization energy as we go down this group. As a result, there is a regular increase in the ability to form high oxidation states.
- Group 17: Chemical Properties of the Halogens
- Covers the halogens in Group 17: fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) and iodine (I). Includes trends in atomic and physical properties, the redox properties of the halogens and their ions, the acidity of the hydrogen halides, and the tests for the halide ions.
- Chemistry of Fluorine (Z=9)
- Fluorine (F) is the first element in the Halogen group (group 17) in the periodic table. Its atomic number is 9 and its atomic weight is 19, and it's a gas at room temperature. It is the most electronegative element, given that it is the top element in the Halogen Group, and therefore is very reactive. It is a nonmetal, and is one of the few elements that can form diatomic molecules (F2).
- Chemistry of Chlorine (Z=17)
- Chlorine is a halogen in group 17 and period 3. It is very reactive and is widely used for many purposes, such as as a disinfectant. Due to its high reactivity, it is commonly found in nature bonded to many different elements.
- Chemistry of Bromine (Z=35)
- Bromine is a reddish-brown fuming liquid at room temperature with a very disagreeable chlorine-like smell. In fact its name is derived from the Greek bromos or 'stench'. It was first isolated in pure form by Balard in 1826. It is the only non-metal that is a liquid at normal room conditions. Bromine on the skin causes painful burns that heal very slowly. It is an element to be treated with the utmost respect in the laboratory.
- Chemistry of Iodine (Z=53)
- Elemental iodine is a dark grey solid with a faint metallic luster. When heated at ordinary air pressures it sublimes to a violet gas. The name iodine is taken from the Greek ioeides which means 'violet colored'. It was discovered in 1811 by Courtois.
- Chemistry of Astatine (Z=85)
- Astatine is the last of the known halogens and was synthesized in 1940 by Corson and others at the University of California. It is radioactive and its name, from the Greek astatos, means 'unstable'. The element can be produced by bombarding targets made of bismuth-209 with high energy alpha particles (helium nuclei). Astatine 211 is the product and has a half-life of 7.2 hours. The most stable isotope of astatine is 210 which has a half-life of 8.1 hours.
Main Difference – Chlorine vs Chloride
Chlorine is a chemical element that is useful for various applications. It is an abundant chemical element on earth. The term chloride has multiple uses. The negatively charged ion formed from chlorine is called chloride. Sometimes, the salts that include chloride ions are also called chlorides in common. Chlorine atoms are very reactive and tend to form chloride ions in order to get a stable electron configuration. The formation of chloride ions from chlorine atoms and the reactions of these two chemical species are discussed below in this article. However, we can emphasize the main difference between chlorine and chloride as: chlorine is a chemical element whereas chloride is a negatively charged ion.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Chlorine
– Definition, Properties, Reactions, and Applications
2. What is Chloride
– Definition, Properties, Reactions, and Applications
3. What is the Difference Between Chlorine and Chloride
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms: Anion, Atomic Number, Chloride, Chlorine, Ions, Isotopes
What is Chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element that has the atomic number 17. It is in the group 17 of the periodic table of elements. Chlorine belongs to the p block. It is categorized as a nonmetal. The group that includes chlorine and other elements is called the group of halogens. Therefore, chlorine is well known as a halogen. The electron configuration of chlorine is [Ne]3s23p5. It lacks one electron to fill the orbitals completely. Hence, chlorine atoms are very reactive species; these atoms can react with various types of atoms or ions in order to get stabilized.
At room temperature and pressure, chlorine exists as a yellowy-green gaseous compound. This chlorine gas has the chemical formula Cl2. It has a chocking smell. As same as in other chemical elements, chlorine also has isotopes. The most common isotopes are Chlorine-35 and chlorine-37. However, chlorine-35 is the most abundant isotope among these two. The most stable oxidation state of chlorine is -1. By obtaining one electron from the outside, chlorine atom can get a stable electron configuration.
Chlorine atoms are involved in the formation of a number of chemical compounds. These compounds are acidic compounds. The hydride of chlorine is called hydrogen chloride. It is a widely used acid in the laboratory scale. Chlorine can also form chlorides with many other metal elements.
Chlorine gas is very useful in disinfecting applications. Chlorine can kill bacteria. Chlorine is also used to make PVC, a common plastic material. Chlorine gas can be used as an oxidizing agent in organic chemistry. However, chlorine gas is very toxic.
What is Chloride
Chloride is an anion derived from a chlorine atom. Since a chlorine atom is composed of 17 electrons, it has an unstable electron configuration due to the incomplete orbital filling. Therefore, chlorine atoms are very reactive and form chloride ions by obtaining an electron from the outside. This incoming electron occupies the outermost orbital of the chlorine atom. But there aren’t enough positive charges in the chlorine nucleus to neutralize the negative charge of that electron. Hence, it forms an anion called chloride ion. A common example of a compound containing a chloride ion is table salt or sodium chloride.
Chloride ion has 18 electrons. The electron configuration is similar to that of an Argon atom. It is less reactive, and its electronegativity is also very less. It tends to repel any other incoming electron due to its negative charge.
Figure 2: Calcium Chloride is a Compound composed of Chloride Ions
Chloride ion containing compounds are generally called chlorides. Most of these chlorides are water soluble. When these compounds are dissolved in water, the anion and the cation is separated from each other. Since these ions are electrically charged ions, a solution composed of chloride ions and any other cation can conduct an electric current through the solution.
Difference Between Chlorine and Chloride

Definition
Chlorine:Chlorine is a chemical element that has the atomic number 17.
Chloride: Chloride is an anion derived from a chlorine atom.
Number of Electrons
Chlorine:Chlorine atom has 17 electrons.
Chloride:Chloride ion has 18 electrons.
Electron Configuration
Chlorine:The electron configuration of chlorine is [Ne]3s23p5.
Chloride: The electron configuration is similar to that of an Argon atom.
Color
Chlorine:Chlorine gas is yellowish-green.
Chloride: Chloride ions are colorless in aqueous solution.
Electronegativity
Is Chlorine A Metal
Chlorine:Chlorine is highly electronegative.
Chloride:Chloride is less or not electronegative.
Conclusion
Both chlorine and chloride are common terms used in chemistry. The name chlorine is used to name the chemical element as well as the chlorine gas. The term chloride is used to name the chloride ion as well as compounds composed of chloride ions as the anion. However, when comparing the properties of chlorine and chloride, it can be concluded that the key difference between chlorine and chloride is that chlorine is a chemical element whereas chloride is a negatively charged ion.
Group Number Of Chlorine Atom
References:
1. “Chloride.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Available here. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.
2. “Chlorine – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table.” Royal Society of Chemistry – Advancing excellence in the chemical sciences, Available here. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.
3. “Chloride.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Sept. 2017, Available here. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.
Image Courtesy
10 Facts About Chlorine
1. “Chlorine ampoule” By W. Oelen – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Calcium chloride CaCl2” By No machine-readable author provided. Firetwister assumed. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
