Chloroform from Bleach (Haloform Reaction) | Obtaining Lab Solvents (episode 2)

Duration: 4:01

Want to help support videos like this? Check out the links below to donate: https://www.patreon.com/LabCoatz https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/labcoatz Chloroform (or trichloromethane) is most well-known as a historical anesthetic, but did you know it is also a valuable laboratory solvent and reagent? Additionally...did you know it can be made from bleach and nail polish remover?? This fun and easy reaction is known as the haloform reaction, and all you need is a hypochlorite and a ketone with at least one methyl group. In terms of commonly-available chemicals, this means either liquid bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) for the hypochlorite, and either acetone or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) as the ketone. I went with acetone and bleach, since they are the most easy to find. Warning: although once used as a anesthetic, chloroform is now known to be toxic and possibly carcinogenic. DO NOT DELIBERATELY INHALE CHLOROFORM. Also, if you're just some idiot trying to knock someone out or get high, don't even think about it: chloroform has a very distinct smell, and it won't render a person unconscious until they've uncomfortably breathed its vapors for a solid few minutes. Plus, with chloroform, the area between unconsciousness and death is unnervingly small. And like I mentioned, expose to air can lead to small amounts of it turning into a lethal poison. I'm serious. DO. NOT. ABUSE. CHLOROFORM. This channel and its creator take no responsibility for misuse of the information presented or harm that results from replication and abuse of the substances demonstrated in this production.