CF2CFCl

CF2CFCl, also known as CFC-113, is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) that was once widely used as a refrigerant and solvent. It is a colorless, non-flammable liquid with a boiling point of 47.3 degrees Celsius. CF2CFCl has the chemical formula C2F4Cl2 and is composed of two carbon atoms, four fluorine atoms, and two chlorine atoms.

CF2CFCl was first synthesized in the 1930s and gained popularity in the 1950s due to its low toxicity and stability. It was used in various applications, including as a refrigerant in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, as a solvent in the production of electronic components, and as a cleaning agent in the semiconductor industry.

However, CF2CFCl is a potent ozone-depleting substance. When released into the atmosphere, it breaks down and releases chlorine atoms, which catalyze the destruction of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. This process contributes to the formation of the ozone hole over Antarctica.

Due to its ozone-depleting potential, the production and consumption of CF2CFCl have been phased out under the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. As of 2020, CF2CFCl is no longer produced for use as a refrigerant or solvent. Instead, alternative substances that do not deplete the ozone layer are used in these applications.