What is Chlorofluorocarbon?
[[Image:Chlorofluorocarbons (space-filling representation).jpg|thumb|An image showing CFC [[molecule]]s. C is [[carbon]], Cl is [[chlorine]] and F is [[fluorine]].]] [[File:Future ozone layer concentrations.jpg|right|thumb |upright=1.20|alt=An animation showing colored representation of ozone distribution by year, above North America, through 6 steps. It starts with a lot of ozone especially over Alaska and by 2060 is almost all gone from north to south.|NASA projection of stratospheric ozone, in Dobson units, if chlorofluorocarbons had not been banned.]] A '''chlorofluorocarbon''' (CFC) is a [[gas]] used for various purposes including solvents, [[refrigerant]]s, and [[aerosol spray]]s. They are [[organic chemical]]s and contain [[carbon]], [[hydrogen]], [[chlorine]], and [[fluorine]]. They were much used in the middle of the 20th century, replacing chemicals that were [[toxicity|toxic]] or [[flammability|flammable]] or had other problems. In 1978, Sweden became the first country that [[banned]] CFC products. Later, the US and Canada did the same. Now, CFC products are not allowed in most countries, because they cause [[ozone depletion]]. CFCs are [[greenhouse gas]]es. An alternative to chlorofluorocarbons is [[hydrofluorocarbon]]s (HFCs). These do not destroy the [[ozone layer]] or increase [[global warming]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/science/earth/09montreal.html?ref=earth |title=A novel tactic in climate fight|author=John M. Broder |date= November 9, 2010 |page=A9 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=2013-02-05}}</ref><ref>M. Rossberg et al. Chlorinated hydrocarbons in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'' 2006, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a06_233.pub2}}</ref> == Related pages == *[[Thomas Midgley]] (American inventor) *[[Freon]] == References == {{Reflist}} {{Pollution}} {{chem-stub}} [[Category:Carbon compounds]] [[Category:Greenhouse gases]] [[Category:Fluorine compounds]] [[Category:Chlorine compounds]] [[Category:Hydrogen compoun