Difference Between CFC and HCFC

HCFCs contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon (just like CFC), but also contain a hydrogen atom which decreases their stability and gives them a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere. ... Although HCFCs are much less damaging to the ozone than CFCs, they are still powerful greenhouse gases (though not as bad as CFCs).

1. Why is HCFC better than CFC?
2. How do the HCFCs and HFCs differ from a CFC in terms of structure?
3. What are CFC and HCFC refrigerants?
4. What makes HCFCs less potent ozone destroyers than CFCs?
5. What does HCFC stand for?
6. Do air conditioners still use CFC?
7. Why are CFCs bad?
8. Is CFC a greenhouse gas?
9. How does CFC destroy the ozone layer?
10. What is an example of a CFC?
11. Is CFC still used today?
12. Which refrigerants are banned?

Why is HCFC better than CFC?

Because they contain hydrogen, HCFCs break down more easily in the atmosphere than do CFCs. Therefore, HCFCs have less ozone depletion potential, in addition to less global-warming potential. HFCs do not contain chlorine and do not contribute to destruction of stratospheric ozone.

How do the HCFCs and HFCs differ from a CFC in terms of structure?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contain Carbon and some combination of Fluorine and Chlorine atoms. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) contain Hydrogen, Fluorine, and Carbon (no chlorine). Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) contain Hydrogen, Chlorine, Fluorine, and Carbon atoms.

What are CFC and HCFC refrigerants?

CFC Refrigerant: CFC refers to the chemical composition of the refrigerant. Chlorofluorocarbon indicates that the refrigerant is comprised of Chlorine, Fluorine, and Carbon. Common CFC refrigerants are R-11, R-12, R-13, R-113, R-114, and R-115. ... Common HCFC refrigerants are R-22, R-123, R-124, and R-142b.

What makes HCFCs less potent ozone destroyers than CFCs?

HCFCs are less stable than CFCs because HCFC molecules contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen, when attached to carbon in organic compounds such as these, is attacked by the hydroxyl radical in the lower part of the atmosphere known as the troposphere.

What does HCFC stand for?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are fully or partly halogenated paraffin hydrocarbons that contain only carbon (C), hydrogen (H), chlorine (Cl), and fluorine (F), produced as volatile derivative of methane, ethane, and propane.

Do air conditioners still use CFC?

Most refrigerants found in air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers contain fluorocarbons, and many fluorocarbon compounds contain chlorine. ... The atmospherically benign HFC refrigerants will remain in production, but CFC and HCFC refrigerants will be phased out. Production of CFCs ceased in 1995.

Why are CFCs bad?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons destroy the earth's protective ozone layer, which shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) rays generated from the sun. CFCs and HCFCs also warm the lower atmosphere of the earth, changing global climate.

Is CFC a greenhouse gas?

Many greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide, while others are synthetic. Those that are man-made include the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), as well as sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆).

How does CFC destroy the ozone layer?

Once in the atmosphere, CFCs drift slowly upward to the stratosphere, where they are broken up by ultraviolet radiation, releasing chlorine atoms, which are able to destroy ozone molecules. The seasons have an impact on the Antarctic ozone hole.

What is an example of a CFC?

An example of a refrigerant CFC is dichlorodifluoromethane, CF₂Cl₂ (also known as CFC-12), which boils at -30°C. Another once-common CFC is trichlorofluoromethane, CFCl₃ (CFC-11), which boils at 24°C and was once the propellant in around half of all the aerosol cans used in the world.

Is CFC still used today?

CFCs were phased out of production in developed countries by 1996, and in developing countries by 2010, under the Montreal Protocol because of the leading role they played in creating the so-called “ozone hole” in the atmosphere.

Which refrigerants are banned?

The hydrocarbon refrigerants propylene R1270 and R443A have been banned for new residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps, cold storage warehouses, centrifugal chillers, and positive displacement chillers.