[3] Inorganic chloramines comprise three compounds: monochloramine (NH2Cl), dichloramine (NHCl2), and nitrogen trichloride (NCl3).
[4] Inorganic chloramines are produced by the reaction of ammonia and hypochlorous acid or chlorine.
The simplest organic chloramine is N-chloromethylamine, CH3NHCl;[7] notable examples include N-chloromorpholine (ClN(CH2CH2)2O), N-chloropiperidine, and N-chloroquinuclidinium chloride.
[8] Chloramines are commonly produced by the action of sodium hypochlorite on secondary amines: Tert-butyl hypochlorite can be used instead of bleach:[9] Chloramines are formed by reaction of chlorine used to disinfect swimming pools with ammonia and urea introduced into the pools by human perspiration, saliva, mucus, urine, and other biologic substances, and by insects and other pests.
[10] Chloramines, especially trichloramine, are responsible for most of the "chlorine smell" of pools,[11] as well as for skin, eye, and respiratory irritation.