Why are CFCs useful?

Why are CFCs useful?

CFCs were used in many developed countries for consumption and production as they were inflammable and non-toxic towards humanity. Chlorofluorocarbons can be used as refrigerants, cleaning agents, foaming agents, and propellants for aerosol sprays (Welch, n.d.).

Why are CFCs good solvents?

Because the fluorine and chlorine atoms differ greatly in size and effective charge from hydrogen and from each other, the methane-derived CFCs deviate from perfect tetrahedral symmetry. Because of their polarity, the CFCs are useful solvents, and their boiling points make them suitable as refrigerants.

Why is the ozone layer important?

Why is Ozone Layer important? Ozone protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun. Without the Ozone layer in the atmosphere, life on Earth would be very difficult. With a weakening of the Ozone Layer shield, humans would be more susceptible to skin cancer, cataracts and impaired immune systems.

Why were CFCs produced?

CFCs were developed as ideal gases used as refrigerants for refrigerators. Because of their special characteristics, inflammability and non-toxicity to human beings, CFCs were massively produced and consumed, particularly in developed countries, after the 1960’s.

What CFCs are and their useful properties?

These compounds are non-flammable, tasteless and odourless, and chemically stable. Their other important property is their volatility, having boiling points close to zero degrees Centigrade. These physical properties make them ideal for use as refrigerant gases in air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators.

Is CFC still used today?

Today, the use of CFCs is outlawed by 197 countries around the world and scientists concur that the ozone layer is slowly recovering as a result.

Where are CFCs used?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants.

Are CFCs used as insulators?

The CFCs are used as blowing agents in the manufacture of these materials. Rigid foam insulation such as polyurethane is produced by injecting CFCs into a liquid mass of plastic polymer, thereby creat- ing the bubbles that provide the insulating capabilities of the material.

How do ozone layer help in sustaining life on earth?

The ozone layer is a natural layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that protects humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The ozone layer filters out most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation and is therefore crucial to life on Earth.

What is ozone layer and what is its importance?

The importance of ozone is defined by the fact that it protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The ozone layer is found in the upper regions of the stratosphere where it protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. These radiations can cause skin cancer in humans.

What are CFCs its uses and properties?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants. Individual CFC molecules are labeled with a unique numbering system.

Why were CFCs used for refrigeration?

They have an exceptionally high heat capacity which makes them effective in the refrigeration process. CFCs were chosen in the 1920s and 30s to replace other chemical refrigerants toxic to humans like ammonia and methyl chloride.

How are chlorinated hydrocarbons used in everyday life?

They also create plastics used in packaging, and products like fluid pipes, furniture, home siding, credit cards, fences, and toys, to name just a few. Chlorinated hydrocarbons can also be used as anesthetics, industrial solvents, and as precursors in the production of non-stick coatings like Teflon ®.

What kind of hydrocarbons are found in chlorofluorocarbons?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are fully halogenated paraffin hydrocarbons that contain only carbon (С), chlorine (Cl), and fluorine (F), produced as volatile derivative of methane, ethane, and propane. They are also commonly known by the DuPont brand name Freon.

How does chlorination affect the physical properties of hydrocarbons?

Chlorination modifies the physical properties of hydrocarbons in several ways. The compounds are typically denser than water due to the higher atomic weight of chlorine versus hydrogen. Aliphatic organochlorides are alkylating agents because chloride is a leaving group.

Why are chlorofluorocarbons less flammable than methane?

Because of their polarity, the CFCs are useful solvents, and their boiling points make them suitable as refrigerants. The CFCs are far less flammable than methane, in part because they contain fewer C-H bonds and in part because, in the case of the chlorides and bromides, the released halides quench the free radicals that sustain flames.