Question

How would you obtain chloroform from propanone?

Answer 1

Chloroform (CHCl₃) can be prepared from propanone (CH₃COCH₃) by using the haloform reaction. This reaction occurs when a methyl ketone reacts with chlorine in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

\[\mathrm{CH_3COCH_3} + 3 \mathrm{Cl_2} + 4 \mathrm{NaOH} \to \mathrm{CHCl_3} + \mathrm{CH_3COONa} + 3 \mathrm{NaCl} + 3 \mathrm{H_2O}\]