Question

What is the normal boiling point for chloroform?

A. $40^\circ C$
B. $50^\circ C$
C. $60^\circ C$
D. $70^\circ C$
E. $80^\circ C$

Answer 1

Hint: The normal boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which boils at standard conditions of pressure and temperature. Thus, by drawing a vertical line from the point in the curve passing through the standard pressure downwards, we will get the temperature at which chloroform will boil.

Complete step by step answer:
Out of the three curves given, the first one corresponds to the boiling point curve of chloroform. As we can see there is a horizontal line passing through the graph at which the value of pressure is $101.8kPa$. As we know, this is the value of atmospheric pressure at standard room temperature conditions. Thus, the temperature corresponding to this point would give us the normal boiling point. For finding this, we draw a vertical line from the point where the chloroform curve meets this horizontal line downwards till it meets the $x$-axis. The intersection point on the $x$-axis will give us the normal boiling point. This is shown in the figure below:

Thus, as we can see, this point corresponds approximately to the point $60$. Hence, the normal boiling point of chloroform is $60^\circ C$

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which its vapour pressure becomes equal to the external pressure. For raising the pressure of a constant volume system, we apply heat, till it reaches the boiling point. Note that chloroform is a highly volatile liquid used mainly as an organic solvent. It was earlier used as an anaesthetic.