Question

The first chlorinated organic insecticide prepared is:

• A. Gammaxene
• B. Chloroform
• C. COCl₂
• D. DDT

Hint:

DDT, the first chlorinated insecticide, was widely used for pest control but later restricted due to environmental concerns.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The question asks for the first chlorinated organic insecticide ever prepared. To answer this, we need to consider the history and chemistry of insecticides, particularly organochlorine compounds.

Let's analyze the options:

1. Gammaxene: This is another name for Lindane, which is a derivative of benzene hexachloride. It is an organochlorine insecticide but was not the first to be developed. It was synthesized after DDT.
2. Chloroform: Chloroform is not an insecticide. It is an organic compound with the formula CHCl₃ and is used as a solvent and anesthetic.
3. COCl₂: This is the formula for phosgene, a toxic gas used as a chemical weapon. It is not used as an insecticide.
4. DDT: DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) is an organochlorine insecticide. It was synthesized by Othmar Zeidler in 1874 and its insecticidal properties were discovered by Paul Müller in 1939. It is indeed the first chlorinated organic insecticide.

Given this analysis, the correct answer is DDT. DDT was the first chlorinated organic compound used as an insecticide, leading to its widespread use during World War II and the subsequent decades.

In conclusion, the answer is DDT, as it was the first discovered and widely used chlorinated organic insecticide.