Effects Of Chlorine In Swimming Pool Water

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Chlorine is the most common chemical used to treat and sterilize swimming pool water. When chlorine (in the chemical form of calcium hypochlorite) is added to a swimming pool it destroys pathogens and oxidizes materials such as chloramines. When chlorine is added to water a week acid called hypochlorous acid (HOCL) and chloride ions (CL-) are produced. The hypochlorous acid is what gives water the ability to oxidize and sterilize and disinfect the water. CL2 + 2H2O <----> HOCl + CL- + H2O -Equation One The hypochlorous acid then splits into hypochlorite ion (OCL-) and hydrogen ions 2H2O + HOCL <----> H3O+ + OCL- -Equation Two OCL- and HOCL both act on pathogens in the swimming pool water, though HOCL is approximately eight times more effective as the negative charge on OCL- slows down its ability to attack the organism’s cell walls. Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) isn’t stable and it degrades when it is exposed to ultraviolet light, (sunlight) therefore ineffective when it comes to sterilizing pool water. With ultraviolet light, HOCL has a photochemical reaction (photolysis). 2HOC...

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