Chloroform
Also known as: Terchloride of formyle · trichloromethane · methane trichloride · methylidyne trichloride · trichloroform · trichloromethyl radical · methenyl chloride · formyl trichloride
- 1Chloroform has the chemical formula CHCl3.
- 2It is widely used as a precursor for the production of refrigerants.
- 3It serves as a key raw material in the synthesis of polytetrafluoroethylene.
- 4It was historically significant as an inhalational anesthetic during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- 5The compound is a volatile, colorless liquid that is only slightly soluble in water.
Chloroform, or trichloromethane, is an organochlorine compound and a trihalomethane with the formula CHCl3 and a common solvent. It is a volatile, colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid produced on a large scale as a precursor to refrigerants and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Chloroform was once used as an inhalational anesthetic between the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.
Connections1
Pioneered clinical application in obstetrics
Snow developed specialized inhalers to safely administer chloroform to Queen Victoria during childbirth, popularizing its use as an anaesthetic.
Chloroform, chemically known as trichloromethane (CHCl3), is a dense, volatile liquid that has played a significant role in both industrial chemistry and medical history. Characterized by its sweet smell, it is primarily used today as a chemical precursor in the manufacturing of refrigerants and the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Chloroform in its liquid state shown in a test tubeWikimedia Commons: File:Chloroform_by_Danny_S._-_002.JPGAntique bottles of chloroformWikimedia Commons: File:Chickamauga_2009,_Chloroform.jpgAn illustration depicting James Young Simpson and his friends found unconscious.Wikimedia Commons: File:James_Young_Simpson_chloroform.png Historically, chloroform gained prominence in the mid-19th century as a potent inhalational anesthetic. It was widely utilized in surgical procedures and childbirth until the first half of the 20th century, when safer alternatives were developed. While its medical use has largely ceased due to safety concerns, it remains a vital solvent and chemical intermediate in modern industrial processes.