Chlorine itself doesn't inherently have a negative charge. Chlorine atoms are neutral, meaning they have an equal number of protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge).

However, chlorine atoms often gain an electron to form a chloride ion (Cl-), which does have a negative charge. This is because:

* Electron Affinity: Chlorine has a high electron affinity, meaning it has a strong tendency to attract and gain electrons.

* Octet Rule: By gaining an electron, chlorine achieves a stable octet configuration in its outer shell, which is energetically favorable.

Therefore, chlorine *becomes* negatively charged when it forms an ion, but it is not inherently negative as an atom.