MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Chloroform structure
Chloroform structure and 3D model (CHCl3)
Chloroform (trichloromethane) is a carbon atom bonded to three chlorines and one hydrogen. The atoms are arranged in a tetrahedron.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Chloroform at a glance
| Formula | CHCl3 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 119.38 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | chloroform |
| Atoms / bonds | 5 / 4 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 0 / 0 |
| logP (estimated) | 2.0 |
| SMILES | C(Cl)(Cl)Cl |
| InChIKey | HEDRZPFGACZZDS-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 6212 |
What the 3D model of Chloroform shows
The model contains 5 atoms (4 heavy atoms and 1 hydrogens) joined by 4 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 0 and accept 0 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 2.0 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 0 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| carbon | Tetrahedral, sp³ | Cl–C–Cl ≈ 111° |
| C–Cl bonds | Single bonds | ≈ 1.76 Å |
Is Chloroform polar?
Yes, moderately. The three C–Cl dipoles do not cancel the C–H direction, giving a dipole of about 1.0 D. It still does not mix well with water.
Elemental composition of CHCl3
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1 | 12.011 | 10.06% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 1 | 1.008 | 0.84% |
| Chlorine (Cl) | 3 | 106.359 | 89.09% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of chloroform
- Solvent for extractions in labs
- Deuterated form (CDCl₃) is the most common NMR solvent
- Raw material for making refrigerant HCFC-22 and PTFE (Teflon)
Interesting facts
- Chloroform was used as a surgical anaesthetic in the 1800s but was abandoned because of its toxicity.
- In air and light it slowly forms phosgene, so it is stored in dark bottles with a stabiliser.
- It is about 1.5 times as dense as water.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Chloroform?
Chloroform (trichloromethane) is a carbon atom bonded to three chlorines and one hydrogen. The atoms are arranged in a tetrahedron. Its SMILES is C(Cl)(Cl)Cl.
Is chloroform polar?
Yes. Its tetrahedral shape is not symmetric because one corner is H instead of Cl, so it has a net dipole.
Why is CDCl₃ used in NMR?
Replacing H with deuterium removes the solvent's large proton signal, and chloroform dissolves many organic compounds.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Chloroform?
Chloroform is CHCl3 with a molar mass of 119.38 g/mol. It contains 5 atoms: 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, 3 chlorine.
What is the IUPAC name of Chloroform?
The IUPAC name is chloroform.
How do I draw Chloroform?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C(Cl)(Cl)Cl or type "Chloroform" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.