Question

The chemical name of the insecticide gammexane is:
A. DDT
B. Benzene hexa chloride
C. Chloral
D. Hexa chloro ethane

Answer 1

Hint: The chemical name of the insecticide gammexane is an organochlorine chemical compound consisting of six carbon, six hydrogen and six chlorine atoms.
It is also known as Lindane or gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane ($$\gamma \text{ -HCH}$$). It is one of the several stereoisomers of hexachlorocyclohexane.

Complete step by step answer:
- The chemical name of the insecticide gammexane is Benzene hexachloride. In short, gammaxene is popular as BHC.
- The chemical formula of gammexane is $${\text{C}}_6{\text{H}}_6\text{C}{\text{l}}_6$$.
- It appears like white powder.
- BHC is prepared by adding chlorine with benzene in the presence of sunlight. Oxygen and any other substitution catalysts.

- A BHC gamma isomer is isolated by treating the reaction mixture with acetic acid or methanol in which alpha and beta isomers dissolve easily.
- Structure of gammexane ($$\gamma \text{ -HCH}$$) is as follows:

- Alternative use of BHC other than agricultural insecticide are-

Use in pharmaceutical

treatment for of hair and body

Used to treat scabies

- It is highly toxic for nerves and affects the nervous system, kidneys, liver. It is proved to be a human carcinogen as well.
- It irritates when it comes in contact with skin.
- Gammaxene is a persistent organic pollutant. Hence, it is toxic for the environment as well.
So, the correct option is B.

Note: Other compounds of chlorine include DDT and bleaching powder. All these are considered to be chlorine compounds because they require chlorine for their production.
Isomers are the molecules that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of the atoms in space.