--%>

Explain polyhalogen compounds with examples.

Carbon compounds containing more than one halogen atom are called polyhalogen compounds. Most of these compounds are valuable in industry and agriculture. Some important polyhalogen compounds are described as follows:

    
Dichloromethane or methylene chloride, CH3Cl2

Dichloromethane is prepared industrially by direct chlorination of methane. The mixture of CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl2 and CCl4 so obtained is separated by fractional distillation.

Properties

Dichloromethane is a sweet smelling volatile liquid and its boiling point is 313 K.

Dichloromethane harms the human central nervous system. Exposure to lower levels of dichloromethane in air can lead to slightly impaired hearing and vision. Higher levels of dichloromethane in air can cause dizziness, nauses and numbness in the fingers and toes. Direct skin contact with methylene chloride causes strong burning and mild redness to the skin. Direct contact with eyes can burn cornea.

Uses
    
Because of its low boiling point and low inflammability it is used as extraction solvent in pharmaceutical and food industries. It is also used as solvent for carrying out many organic reactions in research laboratories.
    
It is used as a metal finishing and cleaning solvent.
    
It is also used as a propellent in aerosols.
    
Trichloromethane (Chloroform), CHCl3 

Preparation
    
From methane: chloroform is manufactured by chlorination of methane in the presence of light or catalysts.
1278_polyhalogen compounds.png                                     


The mixture of CH3Cl, CH2Cl2, CHCl3 and CCl4 can be separated by fractional distillation.
    
From chloral hydrate, pure chloroform can be obtained by distilling chloral or chloral hydrate with concentrated aqueous solution or KOH solution.
                    
NaOH + CCl3CHO  1950_electrode potential.png  HCOONa + CHCl2
             
NaOH + CCl3CH(OH)2  1950_electrode potential.png  HCOOna + CHCl3 + H2O

    
Laboratory method: in this method chloroform is obtained from ethanol or acetone by reaction with a paste of bleaching powder and water.

In this reaction, bleaching powder serves as a source of chlorine which first oxidizes ethanol acetaldehyte, which is then further chlorinated to chloral. Chloral reacts with Ca(OH)2, given by CaOCl2, to give chloroform and calcium formate.

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : State octet rule in chemistry Explain

    Explain what is octet rule in chemistry?

  • Q : What are halogen oxoacids? Fluorine

    Fluorine yields only one oxyacid, hypo

  • Q : What are Vander Waal's Radii? Vander

    Vander Waal's radii can be assigned to the atoms of molecules on the basis of the closeness of approach of these atoms in crystalline substances. Diffraction studies of crystals give information about hoe molecules can approach each other and can pack

  • Q : Problem on reversible and irreversible

    The second law states that  dS ≥ (dQ/T), where dS = dQ/T for a reversible process and dS > dQ/T for an irreversible process.   a. Show that since dW12 = -dW21 (dWreverse = -dWforward) for a r

  • Q : P block bif3 is ionic while other

    bif3 is ionic while other trihalides are covalent in nature

  • Q : Benzoic acid is weaker than paranitro

    Briefly state that Benzoic acid is weaker than paranitro benzoic acid?

  • Q : Precipitation Addition of conc. HCl to

    Addition of conc. HCl to saturated Bacl2 solution precipitates Bacl2 ; because of the following reason : (a) It follows from Le Chatelier's principle (b) Of common-ion effect (c) Ionic product (Ba++)(cl) remains constant in a saturated sol

  • Q : Problem based on molarity Select the

    Select the right answer of the question. If 18 gm of glucose (C6H12O6) is present in 1000 gm of an aqueous solution of glucose, it is said to be: (a)1 molal (b)1.1 molal (c)0.5 molal (d)0.1 molal

  • Q : Schrodinger equation with particle in a

    Three dimensional applications of the Schrodinger equation are introduced by the particle-in-a-box problem.So far only a one-dimensional problem has been solved by application of the Schrodinger equation. Now the allowed energies and the probability functi

  • Q : Normality of acetic acid Give me answer

    Give me answer of this question. The normality of 10% (weight/volume) acetic acid is: (a)1 N (b)10 N (c)1.7 N (d) 0.83 N