Chloramine
Chloramines are derivatives of ammonia by substitution of one, two or three hydrogen atoms with chlorine atoms: monochloramine (chloroamine, NH2Cl), dichloramine (NHCl2), and nitrogen trichloride (NCl3). The term chloramine also refers to a family of organic compounds with the formulas R2NCl and RNCl2 (R is an organic group).
Monochloramine (chloroamine) is an inorganic compound with the formula NH2Cl. It is an unstable colorless liquid at its melting point of −66 °C, but it is usually handled as a dilute aqueous solution, in which form it is sometimes used as a disinfectant.
Synthesis and chemical reactions
NH2Cl is a highly unstable compound in concentrated form. Pure NH2Cl decomposes violently above −40 °C (or −40 °F). Gaseous chloroamine at low pressures and low concentrations of chloroamine in aqueous solution are thermally slightly more stable. Chloroamine is readily soluble in water and ether, but less soluble in chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.
Production
In dilute aqueous solution, chloroamine is prepared by the reaction of ammonia with sodium hypochlorite:
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