Dichloromethane: Chloroform Reduced with Zinc, Alcohol and Hydrochloric Acid (Greene, in Thorpe 1912)

Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) is a colourless liquid with a sweet smell like chloroform, and it boils at about 40 °C. Greene made it from chloroform: zinc and hydrochloric acid in alcohol take one chlorine away. The mixed distillate is separated by boiling point, and the high-boiling rest goes back over the zinc. Source: Thorpe, Dictionary of Applied Chemistry vol. 3 (1912), Methyl, after Greene (Chem. News 50, 75). Not given: zinc and acid amounts or acid strength. The glassware is ours. Picture drawn by Youblob.