Question

Pure chloroform does not give white precipitate with silver nitrate. Give reason.

Answer 1

Hint: We know that the molecular formula of chloroform is ${\text{CHC}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}$. In chloroform, the bond between carbon and chlorine is a covalent bond. The compounds in which chlorine is ionically bonded form white precipitate with silver nitrate.

Complete step by step solution: We know that chloroform is an organic compound having a molecular formula ${\text{CHC}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}$. Chloroform is also known as trichloromethane. It is colourless liquid and has a dense smell. If inhaled or ingested then chloroform is a very powerful anaesthetic.
In chloroform, three chlorine atoms and one hydrogen atom are bonded to the central carbon atom. The bonds formed between the carbon atom and chlorine atoms are covalent.
As the chlorine atoms are covalently bonded to the central carbon atom, high amount of energy is required to break the covalent bonds between the carbon atom and the chlorine atom.
Thus, the chlorine atoms in chloroform are not ionisable.
As a result, pure chloroform does not give white precipitate with silver nitrate $\left( {{\text{AgN}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}} \right)$.
Only compounds in which chlorine atoms are ionisable give white precipitate with silver nitrate $\left( {{\text{AgN}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}} \right)$. The white precipitate formed is of silver chloride $\left( {{\text{AgCl}}} \right)$

Additional Information: Uses of chloroform are as follows:
-Chloroform is used as an anaesthetic.
-Chloroform is used as a solvent for many organic compounds.
-Chloroform is used as an organic reagent as it acts as a source of dichlorocarbene.

Note: Silver nitrate is an ionic solid. Thus, only ionic salts containing chlorine atoms can form white precipitate of silver chloride $\left( {{\text{AgCl}}} \right)$. Examples of ionic chloride salts are sodium chloride $\left( {{\text{NaCl}}} \right)$, potassium chloride $\left( {{\text{KCl}}} \right)$, etc.