--%>

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 : Molar solution of sulphuric acid Choose

    Choose the right answer from following. The molar solution of sulphuric acid is equal to: (a) N solution (b) 2Nsolution (c) N/2solution (d) 3Nsolution

  • Q : Problem on volumetric flow rate Methane

    Methane containing 4 mol% N2 is flowing through a pipeline at 105.1 kpa and 22 °C. To check this flow rate, N2 at the same temperature and pressure are introduced to the pipeline at the rate of 2.83 m3/min. At the end of the pipe (

  • Q : How reactive is Trimethylindium towards

    Illustrate the reason, how reactive is Trimethylindium towards oxygen and water?

  • Q : Oxoacids of halogens Why oxidising

    Why oxidising character of oxoacids of halogens decreases as oxidation number increases?

  • Q : Determining concentration in ppm A 500

    A 500 gm tooth paste sample has 0.2g fluoride concentration. Determine the concentration of F in terms of ppm level: (a) 250 (b) 200 (c) 400 (d) 1000Answer: (c) F-ions in ppm = (0.2/500) x 106 = 400

  • Q : Explain structure basicity of amines.

    Basic character of amines is related to their structural arrangement. Basic strength of amines depends on the relative ease of formation of the corresponding cation by accepting a proton from the acid. Greater the stability of cation is, more is basic strength of amine.Alkyl a

  • Q : Vapour pressure of a liquid Help me to

    Help me to go through this problem. The vapour pressure of a liquid depends on: (a) Temperature but not on volume (b) Volume but not on temperature (c) Temperature and volume (d) Neither on temperature nor on volume

  • Q : What is depression in freezing point?

    Freezing point of a substance is the temperature at which solid and liquid phases of the substance coexist. It is defined as the temperature at which its solid and liquid phases have the same vapour pressure. The freezing point o

  • Q : Molarity of Nacl solution When 5.85 g

    When 5.85 g of NaCl (having molecular weight 58.5) is dissolved in water and the solution is prepared to 0.5 litres, the molarity of the solution is: (i) 0.2 (ii) 0.4 (iii) 1.0 (iv) 0.1

  • Q : Calculation of molecular weight Provide

    Provide solution of this question. In an experiment, 1 g of a non-volatile solute was dissolved in 100 g of acetone (mol. mass = 58) at 298K. The vapour pressure of the solution was found to be 192.5 mm Hg. The molecular weight of the solute is (vapour pressure of ace