HALOFORM Meaning and
Definition
-
Haloform refers to a class of organic compounds that contain a halogen atom (typically chlorine, bromine, or iodine) bonded to a carbon atom adjacent to a carbonyl group. The term "haloform" typically refers to the specific compound CHCl3, known as chloroform, which is the most common and well-known member of the haloform class.
Chloroform, or CHCl3, is a colorless, heavy, volatile liquid with a sweet odor. It was widely used as an anesthetic in the past but has been largely replaced due to its toxic and carcinogenic properties. Chloroform is also employed in various industrial processes and as a solvent.
The formation of a haloform compound, such as chloroform, involves a chemical reaction known as haloform reaction or haloform synthesis. Typically, this reaction occurs when a ketone or aldehyde (organic compounds containing carbonyl groups) is treated with a strong base and a halogen source. The halogen attacks the carbonyl carbon, leading to the formation of a halogenated carboxylic acid intermediate, which subsequently undergoes further rearrangement to form a haloform. The haloform reaction is generally used to identify the presence of a methyl ketone or a primary or secondary alcohol in a chemical compound.
The term "haloform" can also be applied more broadly to refer to the entire class of compounds that share the structural characteristics of having a halogen atom bonded to a carbon adjacent to a carbonyl. These compounds exhibit a wide range of physical and chemical properties and find applications in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides, and reagents in organic synthesis.
Common Misspellings for HALOFORM
- galoform
- baloform
- naloform
- jaloform
- ualoform
- yaloform
- hzloform
- hsloform
- hwloform
- hqloform
- hakoform
- hapoform
- haooform
- haliform
- halkform
- hallform
- halpform
- hal0form
- hal9form
Etymology of HALOFORM
The word "haloform" derives from the combination of two components: "halo-" and "-form".
- "Halo-" comes from the Greek word "halos", meaning "salt" or "sea". It usually refers to the halogen elements, including chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine.
- "-Form" comes from the Latin word "forma", which means "shape" or "form".
When combined, "haloform" refers to a class of organic compounds formed by the substitution of hydrogen atoms with halogen atoms (e.g., chloroform, bromoform). The term was coined based on their shape and composition, with the "halo-" indicating the presence of halogens and "-form" representing their general shape.
Overall, the etymology of "haloform" essentially describes the composition and shape of these organic compounds.
Similar spelling words for HALOFORM
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
