patient zero - 3-3-2013 at 20:43
It is relatively easy to destroy chloroacetone with lets say a strong solution of
sodium hydroxide, yielding a pink solution.
What are the products?
Is it 1-hydroxy-acetone + NaCl?
[Edited on 4-3-2013 by patient zero]
AndersHoveland - 3-3-2013 at 22:52
Acetone actually condenses with itself under strongly alkaline conditions into a gunky mass.
Chlorine usually does not easily substitute off, but it might from chloroacetone because of the tautomerization of the acetone to the enol. I am not
sure if the presence of the chlorine atom will in any way affect the reaction.
Typically, for example, if you want to hydrolyze chloroform it has to be heated/refluxed with NaOH solution for 2 hours.
patient zero - 4-3-2013 at 05:25
I don't think that some kind of polymerization happens here. The tear gas property
disappears immediately and an oily substance not miscible with water appears,
with a smell that remains me on "the indoor smell of buildings from the 70th with
a lot of plastic inside" 
[Edited on 4-3-2013 by patient zero]