Understanding the distinction between free chlorine and total chlorine might be difficult. You may easily be confused between these two chlorines without understanding the concept between them.
Generally, we may know that they are used to sanitize the water from all contaminants, especially in the pool. The article will discuss the difference between free chlorine and total chlorine.
Key Takeaways
- Free chlorine is the amount of chlorine available to disinfect water, whereas total chlorine is the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine.
- Combined chlorine forms when free chlorine reacts with contaminants, rendering it a less effective disinfectant.
- To maintain safe water quality, monitoring and managing free and total chlorine levels is essential.
Free Chlorine vs Total Chlorine
Free chlorine is the amount of chlorine that can be used to kill germs like harmful microbes and neutralize contaminants. It is mostly used for sanitizing a swimming pool. Total chlorine consists of free and combined chlorine and it is always more than or equal to the amount of free chlorine.
Free chlorine is referred to as the amount of chlorine that is used to kill harmful microbes and other germs. It is also used to neutralize contaminants.
It is free chlorine used to kill harmful microorganisms in the swimming pool. It is the most effective type of chlorine that is actively responsible for sanitizing the pool.
Total chlorine is the grand sum of free and combined chlorine. Total chlorine can be calculated as
Total Chlorine (T) = F+C (free chlorine + combined chlorine)
The total chlorine amount will always equal or exceed free chlorine amounts.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Free Chlorine | Total Chlorine |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Free chlorine is the quantity of chlorine needed to kill microorganisms that are present in the water. | Total chlorine is the combination of free and combined chlorine |
| Formula | No specific formula | T= F+C |
| Components | It includes the chlorine available for the sanitization of water in a pool | It is the chlorine that may be available or not for the sanitization of water in a pool |
| Value | Free chlorine has a lesser value than total chlorine | Total Chlorine is superior in value as compared to free chlorine |
| Usage | Use to kill germs and microorganisms | Use to kill germs and microorganisms |
What is Free Chlorine?
Free chlorine is referred to as the chlorine that is present in the water to kill some microorganisms in the pool. Interestingly, the a reduced presence of free chlorine than that of total chlorine.
Free chlorine is in the form of hypochlorite ions, dissolved chlorine gas, and hypochlorous acid.
Hypochlorous acid is used for the measurement process because it has a strong oxidizing effect and is considered to be stronger than hypochlorite ions.
Concentration in the water of a swimming pool can be measured by the presence of chlorine which is available for the purpose of sanitization of contaminants. It is viable to measure the chlorine content present in the water.
In the process of sanitization, the amount of chlorine is consumed by water in the pool. The best and easiest way to check chlorine levels in the pool is with the help of test strips.
Another two ways of measuring free chlorine are as follows
Colourimetric Test: The method in which some specific reagents and samples are required can cause a coloured integration in the water sample.
Amperometric Test: Amperometric is a system in which a rugged chlorine sensor compensates for ph level.
What is Total Chlorine?
Total chlorine is the economically viable test used to test the presence of both free chlorine and combined chlorine in the water. Combined chlorine is regarded as the amount of chlorine that reacts with nitrogenous compounds in the water of a pool.
This chlorine does not affect the sanitization of water. Total chlorine allows the chlorine that may or may not be available for the killing of contaminants in water.
In simpler words, combined chlorine is the chlorine amount that is not present for cleaning and sanitising water.
When combined with nitrogenous compounds, we can say that the amount of chlorine makes water inaccessible for sanitization.
Organic amines and ammonia are nitrogenous compounds that are present in water. These nitrogenous compounds may be found in polluted waters.
Moreover, ammonia is added to the water for chlorination, which works as a sanitiser. Total chlorine is measured in wastewater.
Main Differences Between Free Chlorine and Total Chlorine
- Free chlorine is the chlorine that is present to kill microorganisms, while total chlorine is free chlorine plus the combined chlorine.
- Free chlorine is used for water sanitisation, whereas total chlorine refers to the quantity of chlorine that may or may not be available for sanitization purposes.
- Free chlorine always has a lower value, while total chlorine has a higher value.
- Free chlorine is checked by test strips, whereas there is a specified formula to measure total chlorine, which is total chlorine= free chlorine + combined chlorine.
- Free chlorine is used to sanitize the water. On the other hand, total chlorine is not used for the purpose of sanitization of the water.
- https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.1551-8833.1967.tb03388.x
- https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2001/gc/b104429j
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
It is important to know the difference between free and total chlorine, I think you did a great job explaining it.
This was a bit complicated but now I understand it completely
It seems that this has to be read very carefully in order to understand the difference between the two components. Thanks for the explanation
I thought I knew about it before, but I realize I didn’t understand it so well until now.
This is of great help for someone who has a pool and wants to maintain it properly
This was very informative, however, I think the subject could be explained in a simpler manner.
It was a bit overwhelming to read but definitely very interesting information
I think this information is really useful. I’ll definitely recommend it to all my friends.
I didn’t realize the difference between free and total chlorine was such a complex topic, thanks!
Yes, I always thought it was the same thing
Who knew chlorine could be so complicated?
I don’t think this matters for non-pool owners.