Chloride is a chemical compound that contains the chlorine ion. Chlorine atoms readily attract electrons from other elements to form chlorides. Chlorides are widely distributed on the earth’s surface.
Chlorides may be organic or inorganic. Organic chlorides contain the element carbon. They include the dry-cleaning agent perchloroethylene. Inorganic chlorides may contain a metallic or a nonmetallic element. Most metals combine with chlorine by losing an electron to form chlorides known as salts. Chloride salts have high melting and boiling points and conduct electricity well when dissolved in water or melted. Chloride salts include sodium chloride, or common table salt, and silver chloride, which is used in photography. Nonmetallic elements and some metals form chlorides by sharing a pair of electrons with chlorine atoms. These chlorides have low melting and boiling points and react with water to form hydrochloric acid. One of these compounds, aluminum chloride, is used in manufacturing detergents.
