C2H3Cl3O

C2H3Cl3O is the chemical formula for several different chemical compounds, depending on how the atoms are arranged. These compounds are known as isomers. The most common and industrially significant isomer with this formula is trichloroacetaldehyde, also known as chloral. Chloral is a colorless oily liquid with a pungent odor. It is a strong narcotic and is used as a sedative and hypnotic. It is also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of other chemicals, such as DDT, although the use of DDT has been largely banned due to environmental concerns.

Another isomer with the formula C2H3Cl3O is 1,1,2-trichloroethanol. This compound is a colorless liquid that is less volatile than chloral. It is also used as a sedative and hypnotic, though it is less commonly used than chloral. Other less common isomers also exist, each with slightly different physical and chemical properties. The presence of three chlorine atoms and one oxygen atom attached to a two-carbon backbone contributes to a variety of potential structures and associated chemical behaviors within this formula.