Demonstration of Chloroform


Chemicals needed

Distilled water

Chloral hydrate GSGiftig.gif (734 Byte) T    R 25-36/38     S (1/2)-25-45

Sodium hydroxide solution 20% GSATZEND.gif (935 Byte) C    R 35     S (1/2)-26-37/39-45


Dangerous substance information

Trichlormethane GSGESUND.gif (476 Byte) Xn    R 22-38-40-48/20/22    S (2)-36/37


Equipment needed

Pear shaped flask (alternative: test tube) with plug


Test procedure


Disposal


Elucidation

Due to base catalysis choral hydrate is decomposed into chloroform and formic acid.

CCl3CH(OH)2--> CHCl3 + HCOOH


Photos

DSCN0330.JPG (181868 Byte)

Chloroform precipates.


Literature

derived from experiment 1643S, "Chloroform ausChloral", S. 300, [2]