Question

ethyl alcohol is added to chloroform bottles. give reason

Answer 1

Chloroform oxidise in presence of air and forms poisonous phosgene(COCl₂).
CHCl₃ + $\frac{1}{2}$O₂———>COCl₂ + HCl.

To prevent the formation of phosgene, ethanol is used.
COCl₂+ C₂H₅OH————> (C₂H₅)₂CO₃+ HCl

Answer 2

Hey dear,

● Why ethanol is added to chloroform bottle -
When chloroform is exposed to atmospheric oxygen, it gets converted to phosgene gas (which is poisonous gas).
CHCl3 + O2 --> COCl2 + HCl

To prevent this, little ethanol is added to chloroform bottle. Ethanol converts this phosgene to ethyl carbonate.
COCl2 + 2C2H5OH --> (C2H5O)2CO + 2HCl


Hope this helps you ...