Question

If chloroform is left open in the presence of sunlight, then:

• A. polymerisation takes place
• B. explosion takes place
• C. poisonous phosgene gas is formed
• D. no reaction takes place

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

If chloroform is left open in the presence of sunlight then oxidation of chloroform takes place and a poisonous gas phosgene is formed. It is also called as carbonyl chloride.
$\underset{\text{ chloroform }}{CHC{l}_3}+\frac{1}{2}{O}_2\stackrel{\text{ air, light }}{\to }⟶\underset{\text{ phosgene }}{COC{l}_2}+HCl$