An organic compound is boiled with HNO₃, cooled and then treated with AgNO₃, a white precipitate is obtained. The compound can be

Only compound containing reactive chlorine, i.e., when attached to sp³ hybrid carbon will react with AgNO₃ forming white precipitate of AgCl. Unreactive chlorine (chlorine attached to sp²C) can give positive reaction with AgNO₃ when the compound is first fused with metallic sodium.

${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COCl}\stackrel{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}{⟶}{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}+\mathrm{HCl}\stackrel{{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3}{⟶}\mathrm{AgCl}\downarrow$