Chloroform is slowly oxidised by air in the presence of
light to an extremely poisonous gas, carbonyl chloride, also known as
phosgene It is therefore stored in closed dark coloured bottles
completely filled so that air is kept out It was used earlier as an antiseptic but the antiseptic properties are
due to the liberation of free iodine and not due to iodoform itself Due
to its objectionable smell, it has been replaced by other formulations
containing iodine