Question

Write formula and uses of chloropicrin.

Answer 1

Hint:We know that chloropicrin is a chemical compound and is also known as trichloronitromethane. Commonly chloropicrin is known as tear gas. Tear gases are commonly known as lachrymator agents.

 Complete step by step answer:
We know that chloropicrin is a colourless liquid in appearance. Chloropicrin is sparingly soluble in water. It is a volatile liquid and has an irritating odour.
Chloropicrin is extremely toxic and irritating to skin, eyes and lungs.
We know that chloropicrin is also known as trichloronitromethane. Commonly chloropicrin is known as tear gas.
The chemical formula for chloropicrin is ${\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{N}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$.
The uses of chloropicrin are as follows:
1-In agriculture, chloropicrin is used as a fungicide, insecticide and herbicide. Chloropicrin is injected in soil before planting crops to fumigate the soil.
2-Chloropicrin effects and retards the growth of many fungi, microbes and insects.
3-In combination with methyl bromide, chloropicrin is used as a soil fumigant and fungicide.
4-Chloropicrin is used in antimicrobial treatment of wood.
5-Chloropicrin is used as a poison gas in world war as it causes breathing problems in humans as well as animals. Vapours of chloropicrin irritate the skin, eyes and the upper respiratory tract.
6-Chloropicrin causes irritation to the mucosal membrane of eyes and causes draining of tears to remove the gas from the eyes. Thus, it is used as a lachrymator agent.

Note:Chloropicrin is prepared by heating chloroform with concentrated nitric acid. The chemical reaction is as follows:
${\text{CHC}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}} + {\text{HN}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{N}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}} + {{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$
Water is produced as a by-product in the reaction.