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How to obtain chloroform from methane?

Chloroform can be obtained from methane by carrying out its chlorination in the presence of sunlight. Following are the chemical equations for the reaction showing the conversion of methane to Chloromethane, Chloromethane to dichloromethane and dichloromethane to chloroform. 

 

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Chloroform (CHCl3) is made by taking methane adding chlorine and then heating the compound up until between 400 and 500 degrees Celsius. Methane (CH4) can be obtained from manure from animals when the manure ferments over time. Chlorine gas (Cl2) was invented in week 4. The chemical formula for this is:

 

CH4 + Cl2 à CH3Cl + HCl

 

After this, you take the CH3Cl, or chloromethane, and repeat the process with the chloromethane instead of the methane. This causes the products to contain progressively more chlorine:

 

CH3Cl + Cl2 à CH2Cl2 + HCl

 

Then repeat the process again using dichloromethane, and then chloroform respectively:

 

CH2Cl2 + Cl2 à CHCl3 + HCl

CHCl3 + Cl2 à CH4 + HCl

 

The products formed are: chloromethane, dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. They are then separated by distillation.

 

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