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.
Related solvents
Other selectivity group VIII to compare with Chloroform.