Chemistry: Chlorine water

Is chlorine water bad for you? (age 11)

This is an interesting question!

Chlorine is usually added to drinking water and swimming pools to make the water safer for people. Viruses and bacteria can’t live in chlorinated water so the chlorine keeps people from getting diseases. Sometimes natural compounds in water can mix with chlorine to make unhealthy chemicals so when water is chlorinated it gets tested to make sure these unhealthy chemicals won’t make people sick. Even though it is safe, some people don’t like the way chlorinated water smells and tastes.

Chlorine does a really important job by making sure people don’t get diseases from their drinking water. So the answer to your question is no, chlorinated water isn’t bad from you. It actually keeps you safe from all kinds of gross stuff that could otherwise make you sick. That doesn’t mean that you should drink the water in the pool, though. There might be lots of other chemicals besides chlorine in pool water.

Keep asking questions!

Your friend,
Professor Science