Question

Chloroform is preserved by adding:
(A) \[{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH\]
(B) \[AgN{{O}_{3}}\]
(C) \[COC{{l}_{2}}\]
(D) \[{{({{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}})}_{2}}C{{O}_{2}}\]

Answer 1

Hint:Chloroform is known as trichloromethane which is a colourless organic compound. It is a strong smelling liquid which is stored in dark bottles. It is considered as a strong anaesthetic when it is inhaled or ingested.

Complete step-by-step answer: Chloroform is formed on a large scale which is a dense liquid. It is referred to as precursor or PTFE. The full form of PTFE is polytetrafluoroethylene. It is a compound which gives the feeling of happiness, pleasure or excitement due to which it is referred to as a powerful euphoriant. It inhibits anxiety so it is used as medication too. This compound is used as a sedative and tranquilizers too to reduce the feeling of irritation by depressing the receptors of the central nervous system. We can form the chloroform by reacting it with the bleaching powder with water to form calcium hydroxide. Here bleaching powder acts as an oxidizing agent. Then we react ethanol with chlorine which tends to form acetone which again reacts with chlorine to form the compound called trichloroethane. Then we react the formed compound with the calcium hydroxide so that at the end we get the desired product called chloroform. Chloroform is stored in dark bottles because in presence of sunlight and air it converts itself into a poisonous gas called phosgene. To prevent it from this conversion ethanol$${C_2}{H_5}OH$$ is added to it which prevents chloroform from oxidation and converts phosgene to ethyl carbonate which is harmless. The equation where we react the phosgene with the alcohol called ethanol is given below
 \[2{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH+COC{{l}_{2}}\to CO(O{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}})+2HCl\]

Hence the correct option is (A).

Note:Chloroform generally exists in a tetrahedral geometry. When chloroform is ingested orally or inhaled it can cause sores due to defatting. It can be carcinogenic to humans. It can be obtained naturally from fungi in soil and seaweeds.