--%>

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 : Vander Waals forces Wax is an example

    Wax is an example of: (a) Ionic crystal  (b) Covalent crystal  (c) Metallic crystal  (d) Molecular crystalAnswer: (d) Iodine crystals are molecular crystals, in which constituent particles are molecules having inter particle

  • Q : Means of molal solution Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. A molal solution is one that contains one mole of a solute in: (a) 1000 gm of the solvent (b) One litre of the solvent (c) One litre of the solution (d) 22.4 litres of the solution

  • Q : What is adsorption and its examples. In

    In a liquid a solid substance a molecule present within the bulk of the substance is being attracted infirmly from all sides by the neighbouring molecules. Hence there is no bet force acting on the molecule or there are no unbalanced forces of the molecule. On the oth

  • Q : What do you mean by the term enzymes

    What do you mean by the term enzymes? Briefly illustrate it.

  • Q : Question on colligative property Choose

    Choose the right answer from following. Which of the following is a colligative property: (a) Osmotic pressure (b) Boiling point (c) Vapour pressure (d) Freezing point

  • Q : Problem on mol fraction of naphthalene

    At 20°C the solubility of solid naphthalene in hexane is 0.09 mol/mol of solution. Use this information and the data below to estimate the following for this system: a) The mol fraction of naphthalene in the vapour phase in equ

  • Q : Explain Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The

    The energies of both the outer and inner orbitals of atoms and molecules can be determined by photoelectron spectroscopy.Energy changes of the outermost or highest energy electron of molecules were dealt with here in a different passion. The energies of ot

  • Q : Calculating total vapour pressure

    Select the right answer of the question. The vapour pressure of two liquids P and Q are 80 and 600 torr, respectively. The total vapour pressure of solution obtained by mixing 3 mole of P and 2 mole of Q would be: (a) 140 torr (b) 20 torr (c) 68 torr (d) 72 torr

  • Q : Statement of Henry law Determine the

    Determine the correct regarding Henry’s law: (1) The gas is in contact with the liquid must behave as an ideal gas (2) There must not be any chemical interaction among the gas and liquid (3) The pressure applied must be high (4) All of these.

  • Q : Chemistry brief discription of relative

    brief discription of relative lowering of vapour pressure