Question:

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the presence of light to give

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Always associate Chloroform + Oxygen + Light with the poisonous gas Phosgene. In exam options, look for "Phosgene" or its IUPAC name "Carbonyl Chloride".
Updated On: May 6, 2026
  • carbon tetrachloride
  • carbonyl chloride
  • methyl chloride
  • methylene dichloride
  • acetaldehyde
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Concept: Chloroform ($CHCl_3$) is susceptible to slow oxidation by atmospheric oxygen when exposed to light, a process known as photo-oxidation.
Phosgene: The product formed, carbonyl chloride ($COCl_2$), is a highly poisonous gas commonly known as phosgene.
Storage: To prevent this, chloroform is stored in dark-colored, airtight bottles, and often 1% ethanol is added to convert any formed phosgene into harmless diethyl carbonate.

Step 1:
Write the chemical equation. The reaction is: \[ 2CHCl_3 + O_2 \xrightarrow{light} 2COCl_2 + 2HCl \]

Step 2:
Identify the IUPAC name of the product. The molecule $O=CCl_2$ consists of a carbonyl group ($C=O$) with two chlorine atoms. Its IUPAC name is carbonyl chloride.
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