Freon, formerly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, belongs to which class of chemical compounds?

Freon, formerly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, belongs to which class of chemical compounds?

• A. Hydrofluorocarbons
• B. Hydrocarbons
• C. Chlorofluorocarbons
• D. Sulfur hexafluoride

Answer: (C)

Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon—an organic molecule with a carbon backbone that has chlorine and fluorine atoms attached. This specific combination of halogens on carbon distinguishes it from plain hydrocarbons (which have only carbon and hydrogen) and from hydrofluorocarbons (which have hydrogen and fluorine but no chlorine). It’s also not sulfur hexafluoride, which contains sulfur. Freons were favored as refrigerants for their stability and favorable thermodynamics, but the chlorine atoms can catalyze ozone depletion in the stratosphere, which led to regulatory phaseouts.

Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon—an organic molecule with a carbon backbone that has chlorine and fluorine atoms attached. This specific combination of halogens on carbon distinguishes it from plain hydrocarbons (which have only carbon and hydrogen) and from hydrofluorocarbons (which have hydrogen and fluorine but no chlorine). It’s also not sulfur hexafluoride, which contains sulfur. Freons were favored as refrigerants for their stability and favorable thermodynamics, but the chlorine atoms can catalyze ozone depletion in the stratosphere, which led to regulatory phaseouts.