--%>

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 : Question based on vapour pressure and

    Give me answer of this question. The vapour pressure of water at 20degreeC is 17.54 mm. When 20g of a non-ionic, substance is dissolved in 100g of water, the vapour pressure is lowered by 0.30 mm. What is the molecular weight of the substances: (a) 210.2 (b) 206.88

  • Q : Relationship between Pressure and

    The pressure-temperature relation for solid-vapor or liquid vapor equilibrium is expressed by the Clausis-Clapeyron equation.We now obtain an expression for the pressure-temperature dependence of the state of equilibrium between two phases. To be specific,

  • Q : Ionic radius of chloride ion The edge

    The edge length of the unit cell of Nacl crystal lattice is 552 pm. If ionic radius of sodium ion is 95. What is the ionic radius of chloride ion:(a) 190 pm  (b) 368 pm  (c) 181 pm  (d) 276 pm     <

  • Q : Molarity Give me answer of this

    Give me answer of this question. If 20ml of 0.4N, NaoH solution completely neutralises 40ml of a dibasic acid. The molarity of the acid solution is:(a) 0.1M (b) 0.2M (c)0.3M (d)0.4M

  • Q : How much phosphorus is in superphosphate

    Superphosphate has the formulate: CaH4 (PO4)2 H2O calculate the percentage of Phosphorus in this chemical. Show your calculations

  • Q : HCl polarity Illustrate HCl is polar or

    Illustrate HCl is polar or non-polar?

  • Q : Problem on endothermic or exothermic At

    At low temperatures, mixtures of water and methane can form a hydrate (i.e. a solid containing trapped methane). Hydrates are potentially a very large source of underground trapped methane in the pole regions but are a nuisance when they form in pipelines and block th

  • Q : Cations Explain how dissolving the

    Explain how dissolving the Group IV carbonate precipitate with 6M CH3COOH, followed by the addition of extra acetic acid.

  • Q : Calculating value of molar solution

    Choose the right answer from following. An X molal solution of a compound in benzene has mole fraction of solute equal to 0.2. The value of X is: (a)14 (b) 3.2 (c) 4 (d) 2