chloramine

American  

[klawr-uh-meen, klohr-, klaw-ram-een, kloh-] / ˈklɔr əˌmin, ˈkloʊr-, klɔˈræm in, kloʊ- /

noun

1. an unstable, colorless liquid, NH 2 Cl, with a pungent odor, derived from ammonia.

2. any of a class of compounds obtained by replacing a hydrogen atom of an =NH or −NH 2 group with chlorine.

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chloramine British  

/ ˈklɔːrəˌmiːn /

noun

1. an unstable colourless liquid with a pungent odour, made by the reaction of sodium hypochlorite and ammonia. Formula: NH 2 Cl

2. any compound produced by replacing hydrogen atoms in an azo or amine group with chlorine atoms

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chloramine Scientific  

/ klôr′ə-mēn′ /

1. One of three bactericidal compounds that form when chlorine and ammonia react in water. Chloramines are used to purify drinking water, since they are more stable than chlorine and produce fewer harmful by-products.

2. Any of various organic compounds containing a chlorine atom attached to a nitrogen atom, especially one of three sodium salts that are used as antiseptics and germicides. The most widely used is called chloramine-T.

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Etymology

Origin of chloramine

First recorded in 1890–95; chlor- ² + amine

Compare meaning

How does chloramine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chloramine vs. chlorine

Example Sentences

If water remains stagnant in a reservoir, there is a risk that the disinfectant, chloramine, will break down and chlorine will evaporate, leaving behind ammonia that could foster bacterial growth in the water supply.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025

The researchers have now identified chloronitramide anion, chemically expressed as Cl-N-NO2−, as an end product of inorganic chloramine decomposition.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

In the presence of a large excess of ammonia at low temperature, the chloramine reacts further to produce hydrazine, N2H4:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

People vary a lot in how sensitive they are to both the smell and the irritating effects of chloramine.

From Slate • May 27, 2016

Although the market conditions may, in some instances, be unfavourable to the chloramine process, the method possesses certain advantages that more than offset a slight possible increase in the cost of materials.

From Chlorination of Water by Race, Joseph