chlorine
UK[ˈklɔːriːn]US[ˈklɔːriːn]
n
a chemical element (symbol Cl), a greenish-yellow gas with a strong smell, used for purifying water and in bleaches and disinfectants.
Morpheme Breakdown
chlor
ine
chlor
green
ine
chemical suffix
Etymology
the word chlorine was coined in 1810 by the english chemist sir humphry davy from the greek root 'khlōros', meaning 'greenish-yellow', in direct reference to the gas's distinctive color. the greek term 'khlōros' itself is of ancient origin, possibly linked to proto-indo-European roots connoting brightness or a yellowish hue. davy applied the suffix '-ine', commonly used for chemical elements, to create the modern name. thus, the term's logic is transparently descriptive, linking the element's most striking physical property directly to its scientific designation.
Analysis
Structure: chlor (green) + ine (chemical suffix)
chlor (from greek 'khlōros', meaning 'greenish-yellow' or 'pale green'); ine (a suffix used in chemistry to form names of substances, especially halogens and alkaloids).
Examples
chlorine is added to swimming pools to kill bacteria.
the strong smell of chlorine is common in many household cleaning products.
workers evacuated the plant after a chlorine leak was detected.