Chlorine kills pathogens such as bacteria and viruses by breaking the chemical bonds in their molecules.
Disinfectants that are used for this purpose consist of chlorine compounds which can exchange atoms with other compounds, such as enzymes in bacteria and other cells.
When enzymes come in contact with chlorine, one or more of the hydrogen atoms in the molecule are replaced by chlorine.
This causes the entire molecule to change shape or fall apart.
When enzymes do not function properly, a cell or bacterium will die.
Chlorine effectively kills a large variety of microbial waterborne pathogens, including those that can cause typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera and Legionnaires' disease.