Trihalomethanes (
THMs) are
chemical compounds in which three of the four hydrogen atoms of
methane (CH
4) are replaced by
halogen atoms. Many trihalomethanes find uses in industry as
solvents or
refrigerants. THMs are also environmental pollutants, and many are considered
carcinogenic. Trihalomethanes with all the same halogen atoms are called
haloforms. Several of these are easy to prepare through the
haloform reaction.