who discovered chlorine

Chlorine was discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish chemist. He produced chlorine gas by reacting the mineral pyrolusite (manganese dioxide) with hydrochloric acid (then known as muriatic acid) and noted its strong smell, yellow-green color, and bleaching properties. Although Scheele thought the gas contained oxygen and did not recognize it as an element, his work laid the foundation for further studies. Later, in 1810, Humphry Davy proved chlorine to be an element and gave it the name "chlorine," derived from the Greek word "chloros" meaning yellow-green.