Which of the following compound is used as paint remover?

The correct answer is Option (1) → Methylene chloride

Carbon compounds containing more than one halogen atom are called polyhalogen compounds. Many of them are useful solvents, reagents or medicines. The common ones and their uses are:

• Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), CH₂Cl₂: widely used as a solvent, as a paint remover, as a propellant in aerosols, as a process solvent in making drugs, and for cleaning and finishing metals.

• Trichloromethane (chloroform), CHCl₃: solvent for fats, alkaloids and iodine; used to make the refrigerant freon R-22; once used as an anaesthetic.

• Triiodomethane (iodoform), CHI₃: once used as an antiseptic, because it releases free iodine.

• Tetrachloromethane, CCl₄: used to make refrigerants and aerosol propellants; formerly in fire extinguishers.

• Freons (chlorofluorocarbons): refrigeration and air conditioning.

So the compound used as a paint remover is methylene chloride.

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride)