Question

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the presence of light to give

• A. carbon tetrachloride
• B. carbonyl chloride
• C. methyl chloride
• D. methylene dichloride
• E. acetaldehyde

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the presence of light to give a poisonous compound carbonyl chloride, which is also known by the name phosgene.

$CHC{l}_3+\frac{1}{2}{O}_2\stackrel{hv}{\to }\underset{\text{Carbonyl chloride (poisonous)}}{COC{l}_2}+HCl$

That's why chloroform is generally stored in dark coloured bottles filled upto brim.