Aromatic waters are clear, saturated aqueous solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic or volatile substances. Aromatic waters may be prepared by distillation or solution of the aromatic substance, with or without the use of dispersing agents. Chloroform water is simple aromatic water, which contains purified water as a solvent but does not contain alcohol. It is saturated solution of chloroform in purified water.

Aromatic waters are clear, saturated aqueous solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic or volatile substances


Chloroform (CHCl3) is a clear colorless liquid having specific gravity 1.474 to 1.479 and possesses characteristic odor with burning sweet taste. The solubility of chloroform is 1 in 800 parts of water. In the preparation of chloroform water, vigorous shaking is required to subdivide the chloroform in small globules for enhancing its solubility. Dispersing agents are not required in this preparation.

Formula: Chloroform water PCx

Chloroform 0.25ml

Purified water, freshly boiled and cooled to 100ml

Apparatus 

Glass beaker, measuring cylinder and volumetric pipette.

Procedure 

Measure the required quantity of chloroform. Add sufficient quantity of purified water to make the required volume with constant stirring so that chloroform gets uniformly mixed. Transfer in clean amber colored glass container and close it tightly.

Category: Preservative vehicle of liquid medicines.

Dose: 15 to 30 ml.

Therapeutic Use

Chloroform water is used principally for perfuming, flavoring the formulation and also used as vehicle and preservative.

Storage

It should be stored in airtight, light resistance container in cool place. Aromatic waters deteriorate with time and it should be made in small quantities and protected from intense light and excessive heat. 

Label  The label should have the caution ‘PROTECT FROM SUN LIGHT’ with red ink due to the presence of volatile constituent in the preparation; chloroform forms harmful phosgene gas in presence of light. 

Caution

The use of chloroform is controversial, because it has shown to cause cancer in certain animals. There are restrictions on the use of chloroform today in many countries; for example in the USA it has been withdrawn from the market, whereas in Zimbabwe and Great Britain the supply of medicinal products containing less than 0.5% chloroform is allowed. Most liquid oral preparations, to which it is added as preservative, contain chloroform in the concentration of 0.25%. Certainly, the inclusion of preservatives in such preparations is very important, especially in tropical climate