How is chloroform prepared from ethyl alcohol? Describe giving chemical equations. Why is chloroform stored in dark coloured bottles?

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Solution

Preparation of chloroform from ethyl alcohol:
Chlorine oxidises ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde. Chlorine converts acetaldehyde to chloral. Calcium hydroxide converts chloral to chloroform.
$C H_{3} - C H_{2} - O H Ethyl alcohol + C l_{2} \to C H_{3} - C H O Acetaldehyde + 2 H C l$
$C H_{3} - C H O Acetaldehyde + 3 C l_{2} \to C C l_{3} - C H O Chloroal + 3 H C l$
$2 C C l_{3} - C H O Chloroal + C a (O H)_{2} \to 2 C H C l_{3} chloroform + (H C O O)_{2} C a Calcium formate$
Chloroform stored in dark coloured bottles because it forms a poisionous compound phosgene, on exposure to air and sunlight.

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