We've all heard of Chlorine, but what exactly is it?

Chlorine is a gaseous chemical element that has long been known as an effective disinfectant.

It has the power to disrupt the outer membranes of living cells – such as bacteria – and cause them to break down and die. Which is a good thing, mostly. It’s the active ingredient in common bleach, for example.

And adding chlorine to drinking water has helped to eliminate deadly outbreaks of cholera and typhoid that once plagued cities for centuries. A very good thing.

But it remains that chlorine in drinking water can be unpleasant for many people, and perhaps even a problem.