Question:
Which of the following compounds is formed when chloroform is exposed to air and light?
Which of the following compounds is formed when chloroform is exposed to air and light?
Show Hint
Chloroform is slowly oxidised by air and light to poisonous phosgene.
Updated On: Oct 1, 2026
- Phosgene.
- Phosphine.
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon tetrachloride
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Chloroform (\(\text{CHCl}_3\)) is slowly oxidised by oxygen of the air in the presence of sunlight.
Step 2: Write the reaction:
\[ 2\text{CHCl}_3 + \text{O}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} 2\text{COCl}_2 + 2\text{HCl} \]
The product \(\text{COCl}_2\) is carbonyl chloride, known as phosgene, which is highly poisonous.
Step 3: Practical note:
Because of this reaction, chloroform is stored in dark brown bottles filled to the brim, and a little ethanol is added to turn any phosgene into harmless ethyl carbonate.
Step 4: Why the other options are wrong.
Phosphine (\(\text{PH}_3\)) has no source in this reaction. \(\text{CO}_2\) is not formed directly. \(\text{CCl}_4\) is made from chloroform with chlorine, not oxygen.
Final Answer:
Chloroform is converted to phosgene in air and light. \[ \boxed{\text{(A) }\text{Phosgene}} \]
Chloroform (\(\text{CHCl}_3\)) is slowly oxidised by oxygen of the air in the presence of sunlight.
Step 2: Write the reaction:
\[ 2\text{CHCl}_3 + \text{O}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{light}} 2\text{COCl}_2 + 2\text{HCl} \]
The product \(\text{COCl}_2\) is carbonyl chloride, known as phosgene, which is highly poisonous.
Step 3: Practical note:
Because of this reaction, chloroform is stored in dark brown bottles filled to the brim, and a little ethanol is added to turn any phosgene into harmless ethyl carbonate.
Step 4: Why the other options are wrong.
Phosphine (\(\text{PH}_3\)) has no source in this reaction. \(\text{CO}_2\) is not formed directly. \(\text{CCl}_4\) is made from chloroform with chlorine, not oxygen.
Final Answer:
Chloroform is converted to phosgene in air and light. \[ \boxed{\text{(A) }\text{Phosgene}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top MHT CET Chemistry Questions
- The temperature of $32^{\circ}C$ is equivalent to
- The heat of formation of water is $ 260\, kJ $ . How much $ H_2O $ is decomposed by $ 130\, kJ $ of heat ?
- If a metal crystallises in bcc structure with edge length of unit cell $4.29 \times 10^{-8}\, cm$ the radius of metal atom is
- Which of the following oxides can act both as an oxidising agent as well as reducing agent ?
- "The mass and energy both are conserved in an isolated system", is the statement of
View More Questions
Top MHT CET Haloalkanes and Haloarenes Questions
- The solubility (in ) of in a solution will be:
- Which of the following is not a thermodynamic coordinate?
- What is the name of the above reaction?
- In the presence of a catalyst, the heat evolved or absorbed during the reaction _______.
Identify allylic halide and vinylic halide.
View More Questions
Top MHT CET Questions
- During r- DNA technology, which one of the following enzymes is used for cleaving DNA molecule ?
- In non uniform circular motion, the ratio of tangential to radial acceleration is (r = radius of circle, $v =$ speed of the particle, $\alpha =$ angular acceleration)
- The temperature of $32^{\circ}C$ is equivalent to
- The line $5x + y - 1 = 0$ coincides with one of the lines given by $5x^2 + xy - kx - 2y + 2 = 0 $ then the value of k is
- The heat of formation of water is $ 260\, kJ $ . How much $ H_2O $ is decomposed by $ 130\, kJ $ of heat ?
View More Questions