• Chlorine dioxide, or ClO2 is a greenish yellow gas that is highly unstable at room temperature. It crystallizes at minus 59 degrees Celsius to form orange crystals. Chlorine dioxide ignites and explodes when exposed to sunlight or sparks. It is used extensively in the water, paper and disinfecting industries.
  
  

Water Treatment

• Chlorine dioxide is used extensively in the water treatment industry for its disinfecting properties. Chlorine dioxide is an effective bactericide and works well in neutralizing harmful microorganisms including amoebas, protozoa, viruses and parasitic fungi. It oxidizes manganese and iron, removes offensive odors and improves the quality of water.
  
  

Bleach

• Chlorine dioxide is used to bleach paper, paper products and wood pulp. Paper bleaching is a process that follows several distinct stages, each with a separate function and end product. Chlorine dioxide is typically used in the fourth, or D stage, of the bleaching process. A 10 to 12 percent consistency of chlorine dioxide applied between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius for three hours brightens and delignifies wood pulp. Delignification is the process in which lignin is removed from wood pulp. Lignin is a binder that hardens and strengthens wood cellulose fibers. Chlorine dioxide is also used for the bleaching of oils, fats, flour, cellulose, beeswax, textiles and skin, according to the Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design.
  
  

Mouthwashes and Skin Disinfection

• Stabilized chlorine dioxide is used on a small scale as an active ingredient in mouthwashes. chlorine dioxide reduces the intensity of volatile sulfur compounds and manages bad breath, according to "Chemical Composition of Everyday Products." Low concentrations of chlorine dioxide are also used as a skin antiseptic for mastitis control, according to "Antisepsis, Disinfection, and Sterilization."