Question

What happens when chloroform is subjected to nitration?

Answer 1

1. When chloroform (CHCl₃) is subjected to nitration, it undergoes an electrophilic substitution reaction where one hydrogen atom is replaced by a nitro group (-NO₂).
2. The nitration is carried out using a nitrating mixture typically composed of concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).
3. In this reaction, the nitronium ion \[\ce{(NO^+_2)}\], formed in the acidic medium, acts as the electrophile and attacks the carbon atom bonded to the three chlorine atoms.
   \[\mathrm{CHCl}_3 + \mathrm{HNO}_3 \xrightarrow{H_2SO_4}\mathrm{CCl_3NO_2} + \mathrm{H_2O}\] 
4. This results in the formation of trichloronitromethane, also known as nitroform (CCl₃NO₂).
5. Nitroform is a highly chlorinated nitro compound historically used in explosives and dyes. 

Thus, nitration of chloroform efficiently produces nitroform through the substitution of a hydrogen atom by a nitro group under strong acidic conditions.