Question

Starting from chloroform how would you prepare chloropicrin?

Answer 1

Starting from chloroform (CHCl₃), chloropicrin (CCl₃NO₂) can be prepared by nitration, involving the following steps:

1. React chloroform with nitric acid (HNO₃): Chloroform is treated with concentrated nitric acid, leading to the substitution of one hydrogen atom by the nitro group (NO₂).
2. Formation of chloropicrin: The reaction yields chloropicrin, a compound where the nitro group is attached to the trichloromethyl group of chloroform.

The overall reaction equation is:

\[\mathrm{CHCl}_3 + \mathrm{HNO}_3 \longrightarrow \mathrm{CCl}_3\mathrm{NO}_2 + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}\]

This reaction usually requires controlled temperature and conditions to favor the formation of chloropicrin.

Hence, chloropicrin is prepared by the nitration of chloroform with nitric acid, substituting one hydrogen atom with the nitro group to form CCl₃NO₂.