chlorinate

[ klawr-uh-neyt, klohr- ]

verb (used with object)

, chlo·ri·nat·ed, chlo·ri·nat·ing.

1. Chemistry.
   1. to combine or treat with chlorine.
   2. to introduce chlorine atoms into an organic compound by an addition or substitution reaction.
2. to disinfect (water) by means of chlorine.
3. Metallurgy. to treat (a gold ore) with chlorine gas in order that the gold may be removed as a soluble chloride.

chlorinate

/ ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to combine or treat (a substance) with chlorine
2. to disinfect (water) with chlorine

chlorinate

/ klôr′ə-nāt′ /

1. To add chlorine or one of its compounds to a substance. Water and sewage are chlorinated to be disinfected, and paper pulp is chlorinated to be bleached.

Derived Forms

• ˈchlorinˌator, noun
• ˌchlorinˈation, noun

Other Words From

• chlori·nation noun
• chlori·nator noun
• hyper·chlori·nation noun
• postchlo·ri·nation adjective
• un·chlori·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chlorinate¹

First recorded in 1855–60; chlorine + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The first step is to chlorinate ordinary toluol, one of the coal tar bases, to produce benzyl chloride.

From Project Gutenberg