Question

Chloroform is a chlorine compound, but it does not give white precipitate with silver nitrate solution. Give reasons.

Answer 1

1. Chloroform (CHCl₃) is a chlorine-containing compound, but the chlorine atoms are covalently bonded in the molecule.
2. Silver nitrate (AgNO₃) test gives a white precipitate of silver chloride (AgCl) only if free chloride ions (Cl^–) are present in the solution.
3. Chloroform does not dissociate to give free Cl^– ions because its chlorine is covalently bonded and not ionic.
4. When chloroform is treated with silver nitrate solution, no silver chloride precipitate forms as Cl^– ions are not available.
5. In contrast, ionic chlorides like HCl or NaCl readily provide free Cl^– ions and produce the white silver chloride precipitate.

Hence, the absence of free chloride ions in chloroform explains why chloroform does not give a white precipitate with silver nitrate solution.