Chem. [f. TRI- 5 c + CHLOR(O-.] A formative analogous to TRIBROM(O-, expressing the substitution of three atoms of chlorine for hydrogen, as in trichlorobenzene, C6H3Cl3; so trichloracetic acid, CCl3.CO2H, etc.
1845. Hofmann, in Mem. & Proc. Chem. Soc., II. 286. Trichloraniline … C12H4Cl3N … procured … by the direct action of chlorine on aniline or the chlorinated base.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 339. The aldehyde thus formed is immediately attacked by the chlorine and converted into hydrochloric acid and trichloraldehyde or chloral.
1912. Thorpe, Dict. Appl. Chem., II. 44. Chloroform, Trichloromethane CHCl3 … was discovered by Liebig in 1831.
