Chloroform

Materials Required

Procedure and Observations

350 ml's of Javel (4%) was measured in a beaker and placed into a 500 ml's round bottom flask.
This flask was placed into the freezer until damn cold.
Once chillded, a cold water bath is prepared. The RB flask is placed in this with magnetic stirring. Note the color.
Approxiametly 5 ml's of acetone was added to a buret. The buret was directed over the RB flask and the acetone was slowly dripped into the Javel. Heat is generated. Over time the reaction reaches a critical point in which mucho chloroform bursts from the solution, color change! Now aren't you glad you noted the color originally? If you didn't, it could have meant serious trouble for your mother's virginity.
Wait. Grab some stacks at McDonalds. It's Monday, stack attack, $2/unit or something. 4 for $9. Eat. Watch American Wedding with your Greek friend. Smoke some cigarettes.
Return to paradise and place, the colorless spent fluid in the seperatory funnel. Add a little water to the RB flask and shake.
(shake shake)
Pour in the sep. funnel to ensure that you get it all.
Allow it to seperate. Wait a few minutes. Pour off the bottom layer (the chloroform, you shithead). Close the sep. funnel and give it a nice spin, maybe a shake, but not a rough shake, a gentle, loving shake.
(shake)
Let the tiny bit seperate. Go and clean up the mess your Greek friend left behind. Come back and pour off the bottom layer, or scream angrily seeing that there is no layer.
Mass it in anything but styrofoam.

Notes Concerning the Procedure

It is important that the acetone is added slowly, as the reaction is quite exothermic and may boil off your ever-so-precious product. This has happened to me quite frequently.
It is also important that the NaOCl solution is chilled beforehand, this will ensure that the temperature doesn't reach high levels.
Go to McDonalds on Mondays and indulge yourself in the pleasure that is the stack.

Reaction and Proposed Mechanism

Additional Comments

Chloroform reacts with oxygen in the air to form phosgene (COCl₂), a poisonous gas, according to the equation:
2CHCl₃ + O₂ ---> 2COCl₂ + 2HCl
In order to prevent this oxidation, ethanol or methanol should be added if you were planning to store it for an extended period of time. You should ensure that the chloroform contains 1-2% ethanol. Ethyl carbonate is produced and is harmless.
COCl₂ + 2CH₃CH₂OH ---> (C₂H₅O)₂CO + 2HCl
Thanks to Vogel 3^rd edition for this information.
Chloroform is the liquid that you see in most movies that is used to knock people out. The typical scenerio, someone takes a rag and soaks it in some liquid and then places it over someone's face. This liquid is chloroform!