Chloral

Chloral, also known as trichloroacetaldehyde or trichloroethanal is an organic halide discovered in 1832 by Justus von Liebig. In its pure form, it is a colourless oily liquid soluble in alcohol and ether. In water it reacts to form chloral hydrate, a sedative/hypnotic substance notorious for its use in "knockout drops" such as the Mickey Finn.

Chloral is produced by chlorination of ethanol:


 * 4Cl2 + C2H5OH → C2HCl3O + 5HCl

Chloral reacts with chlorobenzene to form DDT (with sulfuric acid as a catalyst). This was the reaction used to produce DDT in industry.

The name "chloral" is a portmanteau of "chlorine" and "alcohol", the substances used in its preparation.