I was watching Periodic Video's chlorine video, which discusses chlorine's ferocity in stripping electrons whenever possible, and the professors mentioned its consequent use in WWI as a chemical agent. This got me thinking, if I were in that situation (say Syria if they decided to go old-school or a chemical leak), what could I do to protect myself against gaseous chlorine using the chemistry of everyday materials around me?
I imagine a wet towel won't help much to prevent the chlorine from getting in my lungs. Are there any easily obtainable substances I could safely breath through that would neutralize the chlorine? Or are there any (realistic) MacGyver solutions to quickly building a semi-functional gas mask? Just kinda curious what could be done.