Question

Write the chemical reaction when chloroform is slowly oxidized with oxygen in the presence of sunlight.

Answer 1

When chloroform (CHCl₃) is slowly oxidized by oxygen in the presence of sunlight, it produces phosgene (carbonyl chloride), a highly toxic gas, and hydrochloric acid (HCl).

\[\ce{2CHCl3 + O2 ->[sunlight][] 2COCl2 + 2HCl}\]