Understanding the Chemical Formula of Chloroform

The question asks to identify the correct chemical formula for chloroform from the given options. A chemical formula represents the composition of a molecule, indicating the types of atoms present and their respective numbers.

Chloroform is a well-known organic compound. Its chemical name is trichloromethane. This name itself gives a clue about its composition: 'methane' suggests one carbon atom bonded to hydrogen atoms, and 'trichloro' suggests three chlorine atoms substituting hydrogen atoms.

Identifying the Correct Chloroform Formula

Let's examine the given options and compare them to the known structure and composition of chloroform:

1. CHCl3: This formula indicates one carbon atom (C), one hydrogen atom (H), and three chlorine atoms (Cl). This structure corresponds to a methane molecule (CH4) where three hydrogen atoms have been replaced by three chlorine atoms. This matches the chemical name trichloromethane.
2. CHCl: This formula represents a molecule with one carbon, one hydrogen, and one chlorine atom. This is not chloroform.
3. CHCl2: This formula represents a molecule with one carbon, one hydrogen, and two chlorine atoms. This compound is known as dichloromethylidene, a highly reactive species, not stable chloroform.
4. CH2Cl2: This formula represents a molecule with one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms, and two chlorine atoms. This compound is dichloromethane, another important organic solvent, but it is not chloroform.

Based on the chemical structure and name of chloroform (trichloromethane), the correct chemical formula is CHCl3.

Composition of Chloroform (CHCl₃)

The formula CHCl3 precisely describes the atomic makeup of a single chloroform molecule. It contains:

• 1 Carbon atom (C)
• 1 Hydrogen atom (H)
• 3 Chlorine atoms (Cl)

These atoms are bonded together with the carbon atom at the center, bonded to one hydrogen atom and three chlorine atoms. This forms a tetrahedral structure around the carbon atom, similar to methane, but with different substituent atoms.

Therefore, the correct identification of the chemical formula of chloroform is CHCl3.

Revision Table: Chloroform Formula

Additional Information on Chloroform

Chloroform is a colorless, dense liquid with a sweet odor. It is classified as an organochlorine compound. Historically, chloroform was used as an anesthetic, but its use in medicine has been largely discontinued due to toxicity and the development of safer alternatives. Today, chloroform is primarily used as a solvent for various substances and in the production of other chemicals, particularly refrigerants like chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), which is a precursor to Teflon.

While less common as a direct medical anesthetic, understanding its formula CHCl3 is fundamental in organic chemistry and related fields.