Chlorine and chloride contain different physical properties due to the change of one electron, and chloride is the reduced form of chlorine. Chloride has eighteen electrons compared to seventeen of chlorine, and both have seventeen protons. Chloride has one charge, whereas chlorine is neutral.
Chlorine is more chemically reactive than chloride. Chloride is essential, and it is necessary for all known types of life; however, only naturally occurring chloride is useful in the body. Chlorine is a fundamentally important substance. Chlorine is used as a bleaching aid and disinfectant. Chlorine is also used to sanitize and disinfect water, especially in swimming pools. Chlorine also lowers the pH of water. The most commonly used purpose of chloride is sodium chloride, and the most common and plentiful source of chloride is present in the form of common table salt.