--%>

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 : Define Virial Equation The constant of

    The constant of vander Waal's equation can be related to the coefficients of the virial equation.  Vander Waal's equation provides a good overall description of the real gas PVT behaviour. Now let us

  • Q : Hydroxide is highly insoluble in

     : 1) Chromium(III) hydroxide is highly insoluble in distilled water but dissolves readily in either acidic or basic solution. Briefly explain why the compound can dissolve in acidic or in basic but not in neutral solution. Write appropriate equations to

  • Q : Describe Enzyme Catalyzed reactions

    Many enzyme catalyzed reactions obeys a complex rate equation that can be written as the total quantity of enzyme and the whole amount of substrate in the reaction system. Many rate equations that are more complex than first and se

  • 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 : Explain the preparation of phenols. The

    The methods used for the preparation of phenols are given below:    From aryl sulphonic acids

  • Q : Illustrate the Lewis Dot Structure

    Illustrate the Lewis Dot Structure for the CH4O.

  • Q : Relative lowering of vapour pressure

    explain the process of relative lowering of vapour pressure

  • Q : Vitamines 7 enzyme cofactor what is the

    what is the relationship between vitamins and enzyme cofactors

  • 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 : Molecular basis of third law. The

    The molecular, or statistical, basis of the third law can be seen by investigating S = k in W.The molecular deductions of the preceding sections have led to the same conclusions as that stated in the third law of thermodynamics, namely, that a value can be