Chloral
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| Chloral | |
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| Chemical name | Trichloroethanal |
| Chemical formula | CCl3CH=O |
| Molecular mass | 147.387 g/mol |
| CAS number | [75-87-6] |
| Density | 1.512 g/cm3 @ 20°C |
| Melting point | -57.5 °C |
| Boiling point | 97.8 °C |
| SMILES | ClC(Cl)(Cl)C=O |
| Disclaimer and references | |
Chloral, also known as trichloroacetaldehyde or trichloroethanal is an organic halide discovered in 1832 by Justus von Liebig. In its pure form, it is a colourless oily liquid soluble in alcohol and ether. In water it reacts to form chloral hydrate, a sedative/hypnotic substance notorious for its use in "knockout drops" such as the Mickey Finn.
Chloral is produced by chlorination of ethanol:
- 4Cl2 + C2H5OH → C2HCl3O + 5HCl
Chloral reacts with chlorobenzene to form DDT (with sulfuric acid as a catalyst). This was the reaction used to produce DDT in industry.
The name "chloral" is a portmanteau of "chlorine" and "alcohol", the substances used in its preparation.
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