Solvent · low polarity
Chloroform CHCl3
Also: trichloromethane
Normal-phase HPLC eluent (mid-polarity modifier) and strong component in silica eluotropic series; GC solvent and extraction/dilution solvent for pesticide-residue and spectrophotometric work; common NMR/sample-prep and lipid/nonpolar-analyte extraction solvent. Limited in UV-HPLC below ~245 nm due to high UV cutoff; usually stabilized with ethanol or amylene.
Compiled by Hemant RawatLast reviewed July 2026How we verify
Properties
- Formula
- CHCl3
- CAS number
- 67-66-3
- UV cutoff
- 245 nm
- Snyder polarity index (P′)
- 4.1
- Selectivity group
- VIII
- Eluotropic strength ε° (silica)
- 0.26
- Boiling point
- 61.2 °C
- Viscosity (25 °C)
- 0.57 cP
- Refractive index (nD²⁰)
- 1.4458
- Density
- 1.489 g/mL
- Water miscibility
- immiscible
- USP <467> class
- Class 2
Safety
- suspected human carcinogen (IARC Group 2B)
- acutely toxic - hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic
- CNS depressant / anesthetic
- reprotoxic (suspected)
- forms toxic phosgene on exposure to light/air/oxidation
- NOT flammable (nonflammable liquid)
- harmful vapor - use in fume hood
Reference only. Solvents can be flammable, toxic, or peroxide-forming. Always consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and your lab's protocols before handling.
What Chloroform mixes with
Miscible with: 1-Propanol, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2-Propanol, Acetic acid, Acetone, Acetonitrile, Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Cyclohexane, Dichloromethane, Diethyl ether, Dimethyl sulfoxide, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate, Iso-octane, Methanol, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, MTBE, n-Butanol, n-Butyl acetate, n-Heptane, n-Hexane, N-Methylpyrrolidone, n-Pentane, N,N-Dimethylacetamide, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Pyridine, tert-Butanol, Tetrahydrofuran, Toluene, Triethylamine.
Immiscible with: Water — these form two layers.
Check any specific pair on the interactive miscibility chart.
Using Chloroform in HPLC/GC
Normal-phase HPLC eluent (mid-polarity modifier) and strong component in silica eluotropic series; GC solvent and extraction/dilution solvent for pesticide-residue and spectrophotometric work; common NMR/sample-prep and lipid/nonpolar-analyte extraction solvent. Limited in UV-HPLC below ~245 nm due to high UV cutoff; usually stabilized with ethanol or amylene.
Its Snyder polarity index is 4.1 (selectivity group VIII), and its UV cutoff of 245 nm limits low-wavelength UV detection.See what the polarity index means and the full UV cutoff table.
Sources
- University of Toronto (TRACES) — Burdick & Jackson — Solvent UV cutoff table (absorbance = 1 AU, 1 cm cell)
- Stenutz / L. R. Snyder — Solvent polarity index (P′) and selectivity groups
- NIST — Chemistry WebBook — thermophysical properties (BP, density, refractive index)
- PubChem (NIH/NLM) — Compound property records (physical constants, CAS, formula)
- USP <467> / ICH Q3C — Residual Solvents — solvent classification (Class 1/2/3)
Values are compiled from public references and were last verified July 2026. See ourmethodologyfor how we source and verify. Always confirm critical values against primary references and the SDS.