Laboratory preparation of trichloromethane

Peparation of Chloroform From carbon tetrachloride

Now-a-days, chloroform is obtained on a large scale by the reduction of carbon tetrachloride with iron fillings and water.

Fe / H₂o

CCI4 + 2H ———→ CHCI₃ + HCI

This chloroform is not pure and used mainly as a solvent.

(iii) Pure Chloroform is obtained by distilling chloral hydrate with concentrated sodium hydroxide solution.

CCI₃ CH (OH)₂ + NaOH ——→ CHCI₃ + HCOONa + H₂O

Chloral hydrate

Chloral hydrate is a stable compound inspite of the fact that -OH two groups are

linked to the same carbon atom. This is due to the fact that

intramolecular hydrogen bonding exists in the molecule between chlorine and

hydrogen atom of -OH group.