Question

what happens when chloroform is treated with aqueous solution of caustic potash?

Answer 1

Dear student,

The reaction of chloroform with aqueous solution of KOH is a substitution reaction in which all the three –Cl groups are replaced by –OH groups and further due to lose of H₂O molecule, it leads to the formation of formic acid. Since medium contains K⁺ ions therefore formic acid reacts with K⁺ ions to form potassium format (HCOOK). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction would be:

CHCl₃ + 4 KOH —-> HCOOK + 3 KCl + 2 H₂O

The overall conversion can be written as:

CHCl₃ --> CH(OH)₃ ---> HCOOH ----> HCOOK


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