Overview

Chloroform (KLOR-oh-form) is a clear, colorless, flammable, volatile liquid with a characteristic odor and a sweet taste. It was discovered almost simultaneously in 1831 by American chemist Samuel Guthrie (1782–1848), French chemist Eugene Soubeiran (1797–1858), and German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803–1873). The chemical structure of the compound was determined by French chemist Jean-Baptiste-André Dumas (1800–1884), who suggested its modern name of chloroform in 1834 or 1835. The compound's anesthetic effects on animals were first observed by French physiologist Marie Jean-Pierre Flourens (1794–1867) in 1847.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Trichloromethane, trichloroform, methane trichloride, methenyl trichloride, methyl trichloride

Formula:

CHCl₃

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, chlorine

Compound Type:

Halogenated hydrocarbon, alkyl halide (organic)

State:

Liquid

Molecular Weight:

119.38 g/mol

Melting Point:

−63.41°C (−82.14°F)

Boiling Point:

61.17°C (142.1°F)

Solubility:

Slightly soluble in water; soluble in ethyl alcohol, ether, acetone, benzene, and other organic solvents

The potential value of chloroform as an anesthetic for humans was immediately evident. In Great Britain...