Chloroform
Definition and meaning of Chloroform in chemistry.
Chloroform is a colorless, volatile liquid with a sweet odor and the formula CHCl3, once widely used as a surgical anesthetic and now used mainly as an industrial solvent and chemical intermediate.
In more detail
Chloroform is a trihalomethane in which three of methane's hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine. It is denser than water, only slightly soluble in it, and highly volatile, properties that made it effective for vapor inhalation as an anesthetic before safer agents replaced it. Industrially, chloroform serves as a solvent and as the main feedstock for producing chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), a refrigerant precursor. In the environment, it also forms in trace amounts as a disinfection byproduct when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in drinking water.
Key facts
| Formula | CHCl3 |
|---|---|
| Molar Mass | 119.4 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | 61.2 degrees C |
| Field | Organic Chemistry |
In a laboratory, chloroform is commonly used under a fume hood to dissolve nonpolar organic compounds and to extract organic solutes from aqueous mixtures during liquid-liquid extraction.
Frequently asked questions
Is chloroform still used as an anesthetic?
No. Its use was discontinued decades ago because of risks of liver and heart toxicity and a narrow margin between effective and lethal doses; modern anesthetics are much safer.
Why is chloroform considered hazardous?
The liver metabolizes chloroform into reactive intermediates such as phosgene, and long-term exposure is linked to liver and kidney damage; it is classified as a probable human carcinogen.