Chloroform (trihloromethane), CHCl3 is the simplest trihalogen compound in which hydrogen atoms of methane are substituted by three chlorine atoms. It is a colorless, sweet-smelling, volatile, nonflammable, slightly water-soluble, pungent, sweet-tasting liquid.
Uses of Chloroform
- Used as an anesthetic in surgery.
- as an excellent solvent used extensively in wax, fats and oils, resin and alkaloid industries.
- Used to dry wash silk and woolen clothes.
- as a reagent in the analysis of organic compounds in the laboratory.
- Used for the identification of primary amines.
