Question

Write the structures of three commercially important polyhalogen compounds.

Answer 1

1. Chloroform or Trichloromethane, CHCl₃: It is a tetrahedral molecule in which a carbon atom is bonded to one hydrogen atom and three chlorine atoms. It is used as a solvent and was once used as a general anesthetic.
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \ce{Cl}\\
   |\\
   \ce{H - C - Cl}\\
   |\\
   \ce{Cl}
   \end{array}\]
2. Iodoform or Triiodomethane, CHI₃: It consists of a carbon atom bonded to one hydrogen atom and three iodine atoms, forming a yellow crystalline solid. It is used as an antiseptic due to its germicidal properties.
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \ce{I}\\
   |\\
   \ce{I - C - H}\\
   |\\
   \ce{I}
   \end{array}\]
3. Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12), CCl₂F₂: It has a carbon atom bonded to two chlorine atoms and two fluorine atoms in a tetrahedral shape. It is widely used as a refrigerant and aerosol propellant, though now restricted due to its role in ozone layer depletion.
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \ce{F}\\
   |\\
   \ce{Cl - C - Cl}\\
   |\\
   \ce{F}
   \end{array}\]