Chlorine

Chlorine • Halogen

Primary XPS region: Cl2p
Overlapping regions: Se LMM, As3s
Binding energies of common chemical states:

Chemical state	Binding energy Clp_3/2
Organic Cl	200 eV
Metal chloride	~198.5–199 eV

Experimental information

In the presence of high selenium or arsenic concentrations, acquire Cl2s as well as (or instead of) Si2p peak.
Polymer materials containing Cl may degrade during X-ray irradiation or argon ion sputtering, losing chlorine.
- For chlorine-containing polymers which may be sensitive to X-ray exposure, acquire C1s and Cl2p regions first before moving onto survey and/or other elemental regions.

Interpretation of XPS spectra

Check for presence of Cl2s peak in survey spectrum and spin-orbit splitting in Cl2p high resolution spectrum to confirm assignment. Cl2p spin-orbit splitting (Δ=1.6eV).
- Each chemical state has two spin-orbit split peaks (compared to oxygen, for example, which has one component for each chemical state).
- Example below from a sample with chloride and organic Cl. Peak fit is with two sets of spin-orbit components; one set for each chemical state.
- When quantifying chlorine fit in this way, turn off the Cl2p_1/2 components for each chemical state in the main peak table.

‹Halogen Elements

Table of Elements

General comments

Chloride ions can result from contamination, especially if the sample has been handled without using gloves.
- A large hydrocarbon content and presence of Na may also indicate contamination due to handling.

About this element

Symbol: Cl
Date of discovery: 1774
Name origin: Greek khlôros
Appearance: green
Discoverer: Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Obtained from: salt

Melting point: -100.98 K
Boiling point: -34.6 K
Density[kg/m³]: 3.214
Molar volume: 17.39 × 10^-6 m³/mol
Protons/Electrons: 17
Neutrons: 18
Shell structure: 2,8,7
Electron configuration: [Ne]3s23p5
Oxidation state: ±1,3,5,7
Crystal structure: orthorhombic

Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas that combines with nearly all elements. In nature, chlorine is found as the chloride ion that is deposited in the earth or dissolved in oceans. High concentrations of chloride are found in the Dead Sea and about 1.9% of the mass of the world’s sea water is chloride. Chlorine gas was used against humans in World War I as a killing agent. Chlorine is an ingredient in many everyday items and is an important chemical in water purification, disinfectants, and bleach.