What are chloramines?

Chloramines are best described as a combination of chlorine and ammonia in pool water. When chlorine disinfects the water, it can react with nitrogen compounds, often introduced by swimmers (like sweat or urine), to form chloramines. This process occurs when there is not enough free chlorine available to effectively oxidize these contaminants. The formation of chloramines can lead to undesirable effects such as an unpleasant smell, reduction in chlorine's effectiveness, and irritation to the eyes and skin of swimmers.

While chloramines can indeed produce irritating effects and are considered weak disinfectants compared to free chlorine, the core definition hinges on their chemical composition as a result of chlorine reacting with ammonia. Therefore, identifying chloramines as a combination of chlorine and ammonia is the most accurate choice among the provided options.

The other aspects of chloramines, such as being irritating or classified as weak disinfectants, are consequences of their presence in pool water rather than defining characteristics, making the combination statement the foundational understanding necessary for pool operators.