Question

Chlorine $\left(C{l}_2\right)$is a strong germicide used to disinfect drinking water and to kill microbes in swimming pools. If the product is $C{l}^{-}$, was the elemental chlorine oxidized or reduced?

Short answer

The element chlorine is reduced after disinfecting drinking water.

Step-by-step solution

Given Information

We are given that chlorine is used to disinfect the water and after that ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$product is produced and we have to find out in this process chlorine is oxidized or reduced.

Explanation

When chlorine disinfects water and kill microbes, it changes into ${\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$which states that the reaction is, localid="1653460266708" ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to 2{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}$

$1$electron is getting reduced from $C{l}_2$in product side and the reaction in which an atom loses its electron is called reduction.

Hence, the chlorine reduced in this process and undergoes reduction reaction.