chloroform

Question

Chloroform (CHCl₃) is stored in dark bottles because:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

**Chloroform ($CHCl_3$)** reacts slowly with oxygen in the presence of light to form **Phosgene ($COCl_2$)**, an extremely poisonous gas.
Reaction: $2CHCl_3 + O_2 \xrightarrow{	ext{light}} 2COCl_2 + 2HCl$
- To prevent this:
1. It is stored in well-filled, **dark-colored bottles** to exclude light and air.
2. A small amount ($1\%$) of **Ethanol** is added. Ethanol reacts with any phosgene formed to produce non-toxic diethyl carbonate.

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chloroform

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