Substance profile
Chloroform
Chloroform is a highly refractive, nonflammable, heavy, very volatile liquid with a pleasant, etheric, nonirritating odor.
01 · Identification
What Chloroform is
Chloroform is a highly refractive, nonflammable, heavy, very volatile liquid with a pleasant, etheric, nonirritating odor. Its molecular formula is CHCl3 and its molecular weight is 119.37 g/mol. It boils at 61.1 °C, melts at -63.5 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
Other names for Chloroform
- trichloromethane
- CHCl3
- Formyl Trichloride
- Freon 20
- Hcc 20
- Methane Trichloride
- Methane, Trichloro-
- Methenyl Chloride
- Methenyl Trichloride
- Methyl Trichloride
- R 20
- R 20 (Refrigerant)
- R 20(Refrigerant)
- R-20
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H361d | Suspected of damaging the unborn child. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301, P302, P304, P305, P308, P310, P312, P313, P314, P330, P332, P337, P338, P352
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Chloroform properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 61.12 °C (142 °F) | HSDB | |
| 61.67 °C (143 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 61.67 °C (143 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | -63.47 °C (-82.2 °F) | HSDB | |
| -63.33 °C (-82 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -63.5 °C (-82.3 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 0.85 g/cm³ | Spirit of chloroform | HSDB |
| 1.484 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.4788 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water | HSDB | |
| In water, 7.95X10+3 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| One mL dissolves in about 200 mL water at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Vapor pressure | 160 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 159.013 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 197 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Flash point | None (EPA, 1998) | CAMEO | |
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO | |
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Noncombustible Liquid | NIOSH | |
| None (EPA, 1998) | CAMEO | ||
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | NoneNone (EPA, 1998) | CAMEO | |
| Vapor density | 4.12 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold | 3.30 mg/L (Detection in air; purity not specified) | HSDB | |
| Odor thresholds: low= 250 mg/cu m; high= 1000 mg/cu m. | From table | HSDB | |
| Odor thresholds of 85 ppm and 2.4 ppm have been reported for chloroform in air and water, respectively. | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 263.33 °C (506 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Liquid chloroform will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Chloroform
Storage conditions
Keep in tightly closed containers; storage code: LI
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Mixtures with dinitrogen tetraoxide are explosive when subjected to shock of 25 g TNT equiv or less.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
A mixture of acetone and CHLOROFORM in a residue bottle exploded. Since addition of acetone to chloroform in the presence of base will result in a highly exothermic reaction, it is thought that a base was in the bottle. [MCA Case History 1661(1970)]. Powdered aluminum and carbon tetrachloride (also methyl chloride and chloroform or mixtures of these chemicals) exploded when heated (to 153 °C) and by impact, [Chem. Eng. News 32:258(1954); UL Bull. Research 34 (1945), ASESB Pot. Incid. 39(1968)]. An inadequately cooled addition of sodium to a chloroform-methanol mixture (sodium methoxide) caused a violent explosion, [MCA Case History No. 693]. It is incompatible with dinitrogen tetraoxide, fluorine, sodium metal and alcohols, nitromethane, and triisopropylphosphine.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Chloroform in the storage compatibility matrix →
Next