Chlorine is used in water treatment as a germicide.
Water treatment is a process of purifying water to make it safe for human consumption. One of the most common methods of water treatment involves the use of chlorine. Chlorine is added to water to kill harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that can cause waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.
Chlorine works by disrupting the cellular function of microorganisms and breaking down their cell walls. This makes them unable to reproduce and eventually causes them to die off. Chlorine is effective against a wide range of microorganisms and is relatively inexpensive compared to other water treatment methods.
In summary, chlorine is used in water treatment as a germicide because it is effective at killing harmful microorganisms in water and making it safe for human consumption.