Question

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the presence of light to give

• A. carbon tetrachloride
• B. carbonyl chloride
• C. methyl chloride
• D. methylene dichloride

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

carbonyl chloride

Answer 2

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the presence of light to give a poisonous compound carbonyl chloride, which is also known by the name phosgene.

$CHCl_3 + \frac{1}{2} O_2 {->[{hv}]} \underset{\text{Carbonyl chloride (poisonous)}}{COCl_2} + HCl$

That's why chloroform is generally stored in dark coloured bottles filled upto brim.