General description

Chloroform is a colorless, volatile, liquid derivative of trichloromethane with an ether-like odor. It is a commonly used laboratory solvent. Presently, it is used in the industry as a solvent and in the production of the refrigerant freon. It is majorly used in production of chlorodifluoromethane, which is a refrigerant and fluoropolymer feedstock. It degrades in air to produce phosgene, dichloromethane, formyl chloride, CO, CO2 and hydrogen chloride. It can be orally consumed or inhaled, as it can be quickly absorbed, metabolized and eliminated by mammals.