Fluoroform

/ˈflʊərəʊfɔːrm/ noun

Definition

A colorless, volatile liquid compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine atoms, related to chloroform but containing fluorine instead of some chlorine atoms.

Etymology

From fluoro- + form (from Latin forma). Created in analogy to chloroform (which contains chlorine), named in the late 19th century as synthetic chemistry expanded.

Kelly Says

Fluoroform is one of chemistry's 'what-if' molecules—similar to the toxic chloroform used in early anesthesia, but with fluorine making it behave completely differently, showing how a single atomic swap changes everything.

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