Q. Ethyl alcohol is used as a preservative for chloroform because it
A) Prevents aerial oxidation of chloroform
B) Prevents decomposition of chloroform
C) Decomposes phosgene to CO and $Cl_{2}$
D) Removes phosgene by converting it to ethyl carbonate
Explanation
(d)
Ethyl alcohol converts phosgene to ethyl carbonate.
$COCl_{2}\ \ + \ \ 2C_{2}H_{5}OH\ \ \rightarrow \ \left( C_{2}H_{5}O \right)_{2}\ CO\ \ + \ \ 2HCl$
phosgene ethyl carbonate
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.