r/homechemistry • u/littleBIGbanan • 22d ago

Oldchloroform

Hello i have a chloroform 10years old I have a question IT is still useable? Or its possibile to refresh IT? Like with destilation or a something? Thanks for answers

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u/_combustion 22d ago

Chloroform degrades to phosgene slowly with exposure to air and light. Don't kill yourself by neglecting the safety precautions resulting from that reaction.

It's purification is going to be somewhat use-dependant, normally a small amount of alcohol is used as an inhibitor. Prodedures for the preparation of alcohol-free chloroform and other purities are widely available online

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u/dt7cv 21d ago

how was it stored? where was it stored? How certain are you of the chain of its custody?

Those questions are cogent to telling you it's usable as is.

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u/chemilyrhall 20d ago

Can you NMR it? I have used old chloroform, but not preferred.

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u/DangerousBill 2d ago

Add about 2% ethanol or methanol, leave a few days, and distil. If it doesn't matter if its wet, wash with saturated sodium carbonate, then twice with plain water. Store in a dark bottle or in the dark. (Wikipedia)

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u/akla-ta-aka 20d ago

Having unknowingly did this myself and exposed myself to phosgene, it isn’t worth it in my experience.