Chlorine reacts with cold dilute alkali to give chloride and hypochlorite, while with hot concentrated alkali chlorides and chlorates are formed.
\(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{HCl}+\underset{\text { Hypochlorous acid }}{\mathrm{HOCl}} \)
\(\mathrm{HCl}+\mathrm{NaOH} \rightarrow \mathrm{NaCl}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \)
\(\mathrm{HOCl}+\mathrm{NaOH} \rightarrow \mathrm{NaOCl}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \)
                   (Sodium hypo chlorite)
Overall Reaction
3Cl₂ + 6NaOH \(\rightarrow\) NaClO₃ + 5NaCl + 3H₂O
                             (Sodium Chlorate)

(i) The general electronic configuration of 15 group elements is ns²np³.
(ii) Nitrogen \(\Rightarrow 2 \mathrm{~s}^{2} 2 \mathrm{p}^{3}\) (Valence shell)
(iii) Phosphorus \(\Rightarrow 3 \mathrm{~s}^{2} 3 \mathrm{p}^{3}\)
(iv) Arsenic \(\Rightarrow 4 \mathrm{~s}^{2} 4 \mathrm{p}^{3}\)
(v) Antimony \(\Rightarrow 5 s^{2} 5 p^{3}\)
(vi) Bismuth \(\Rightarrow 6 \mathrm{~s}^{2} 6 \mathrm{p}^{3}\)

Chlorine is prepared by the action of conc. sulphuric acid on chlorides in presence of manganese dioxide
4NaCl + MnO₂ + 4H₂SO₄ \(\longrightarrow \)Cl₂+ MnCl₂ +4NaHSO₄ + 2H₂O

(i) Sulphuric acid is used in the manufacture of fertilisers, ammonium sulphate and super phosphates and other chemicals such as HCl, HNO₃.
(ii) It is used as a drying agent and also used in the preparation of pigments, explosives etc.