Acetone and Chloroform are two colourless organic solvents readily available in nature, hold a lot of use cases in our daily life. Their natural presence is less, so we manufacture them in large quantities to meet our needs. As they are chemical compounds, they both cause considerable amounts of damage to any biological matter.
Summary
Acetone vs Chloroform
The main difference between Acetone and Chloroform is that Acetone is used as an organic solvent for domestic, as well as for industrial purposes. On the other hand, Chloroform is a solvent majorly utilised in industries but is familiar to people only through the medical field, where it is used as a sedative to the patients.
Acetone is a colourless and highly flammable organic solvent. It emits a sharp pungent odour that irritates the respiratory tract when exposed to it frequently. Acetone was first discovered by the German chemist Andreas Libavius using the distillation process in the 17th century. Industries use the Cumene process to produce large quantities of acetone to meet our needs.
Chloroform on the other hand is also a transparent dense organic solvent. Unlike Acetone, Chloroform emits a pleasant, non-irritating odour. On inhalation or ingestion, it causes drowsiness and even coma when used beyond the recommended limits. In the 18th century, J.N.Dumas characterised the compound and named it.
Comparison Table Between Acetone and Chloroform
| Parameters of Comparison | Acetone | Chloroform |
| Chemical formula | (CH3)2CHO | CHCl3 |
| IUPAC name | 2-Proponone or Propon-2-one | Trichloromethane |
| Effects of Exposure | On contact with skin, it causes minor irritation and when inhaled, it is an irritant to the eye and respiratory tract. | Highly toxic when used beyond limits. May cause jaundice and even leads to coma |
| Significance | Used as a solvent in industries. In domestic, it is used as a thinner for paints and can remove paint and nail-polish stains. | Used as a solvent, as a sedative in healthcare. Also used as a refrigerant and in the fire extinguisher. |
| Toxicity and flammability | Less toxic and highly flammable | Highly toxic and non-flammable |
What is Acetone?
Acetone is also known as propanone or dimethyl ketone, prepared by Andreas Libavius for the first time by pyrolating the lead acetate. The discovery of acetone by pyrolation took place during the 17th century. Further distillation led to the extraction of a pungent-smelling compound, which was later called the burning spirit of Saturn.
Our body secretes Acetone in traces, while in some others, it is present in an abundant amount as in patients with the life-threatening diabetic condition, diabetic ketoacidosis. People who are in long-fasting and who maintain a specialised diet with low carbs have a considerable amount of Ketone group of Acetone content in their body.
In industries, Acetone has a common usage as a solvent. It dissolves paint, nail polish and super glue so, it is used as a vital ingredient to remove paint, nail polish and superglue either from unwanted surfaces or from existing ones.
Acetone, a solvent, can break down and dissolve substances like paint. It is used as a thinner with paint to lower its viscosity.
Though Acetone is not extremely dangerous, it can irritate the eye and nose. In addition, acetone is a life-saver because it is used as an active component for manufacturing bioplastic.
What is Chloroform?
Chloroform is an organic solvent well known as an anaesthetic, found by two different scientists, one from the USA and another from France in the early 19th century. But its anaesthetic property was first identified by James Simpson in the mid-19th century.
In industries, Chloroform is produced from a mixture of chlorine and methane. On ingestion or inhalation, it affects the activities of the CNS and may push oneself into a coma. On dermal exposure, it induces sores.
Chloroform exists naturally in some fungi and many seaweeds. Though it exists naturally, it causes no negative impact on the biosystem. As it evaporates when exposed to air and is non-volatile so, it doesn’t get mixed with water.
Chloroform is industrially produced and is used as a component in the production of pesticides. Like acetone, it can be used as a solvent in dissolving resin, rubber, fat, oil, etc.
Due to its toxicity, medical professionals terminated the usage of Chloroform as an anaesthetic nowadays. So, its use in the field of medicine is limited.
Main Differences Between Acetone and Chloroform
- Due to the soluble nature of Acetone, it dissolves the majority of chemical substances like nail polish, paints and glue.
Chloroform plays an extensive role in the industry of health care and pharmaceuticals. - Acetone is not as dangerous as chloroform, but its exposure to the skin may not cause a notable impact. But Chloroform causes sores and scratches on contact with the skin.
- Though the presence of Acetone in our body is negligible, it is excess in people who follow low carb diets. The human body cannot secrete Chloroform on its own, but some parasites do.
- Inhalation of Acetone causes only irritation. But the inhalation of Chloroform can directly force someone into a coma by affecting their Central Nervous System.
- Acetone is an essential by-product in cosmetics. Chloroform is involved in chemical techniques like Spectroscopy and Chromatography.
- Acetone is highly flammable, while the latter is non-flammable.
Conclusion
Acetone and Chloroform are both organic solvents, which defers only by their nature of severity. Because of its harsh nature, Chloroform must be handled with utmost care than Acetone. Having the same physical appearance, they are being used for appropriate use cases only.
Acetone can never replace Chloroform and vice versa.
Acetone discovered earlier than Chloroform has equal importance as the latter similarly does the Chloroform. They both had their beginning as organic solvents but time has forced them to serve mankind due to their usage in medical fields. They had been the inspirations of modern medicines.
They had been the inspirations of modern medicines. Though these chemicals help mankind, it has some negative impacts also. When used beyond limits, they can harm the society in which we live.