chlorination
UK[ˌklɔːrɪˈneɪʃən]US[ˌklɔːrəˈneɪʃən]
n
The process of adding chlorine to water, especially to kill bacteria and make it safe to drink.
n
The act or process of treating something with chlorine or a chlorine compound.
Morpheme Breakdown
chlor
in
ation
chlor
green/yellow
in
chemical suffix
ation
action/process
Etymology
The word 'chlorination' is built upon the element 'chlorine', named for the distinctive greenish-yellow color of the gas, from the Greek 'khlōros'. The chemical suffix '-ine' was commonly adopted for halogens and bases. To this core, the Latinate suffix '-ation' is appended, transforming the noun into a term denoting the specific process of applying chlorine. Thus, the term's literal logic flows from "greenish-yellow substance" to the specific element, and finally to the abstract process of its application, primarily for disinfection and bleaching.
Analysis
Structure: chlor (green/yellow) + in (chemical suffix) + ation (action/process)
- chlor: From Greek 'khlōros' (pale green, greenish-yellow). Refers to the color of chlorine gas. In modern English, it functions as a combining form denoting chlorine.
- in: A suffix used in chemistry to form names of neutral substances, halogens, and other elements (e.g., bromine, fluorine). It is derived from the Latin/Greek adjectival suffix '-inus'.
- ation: A suffix of Latin origin ('-atio') forming nouns of action or process from verbs ending in '-ate'.
Examples
The chlorination of the public water supply has drastically reduced waterborne diseases.
During pool maintenance, proper chlorination is essential to maintain clean and safe water.
Some environmental groups have raised concerns about the byproducts of water chlorination.