Chlorofluorocarbon

A halocarbon compound containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. Chlorofluorocarbons were widely used in refrigeration, aerosol propellants, and solvents before their ozone-depleting effects prompted international controls.

Ozone depletion: The thinning of ozone in the stratosphere caused chiefly by human-made chemicals that release reactive halogens. Chlorine released from CFCs catalytically destroys stratospheric ozone.
Refrigeration: The process of removing heat from a space or substance to keep it cooler than its surroundings. CFCs served as working fluids in refrigerators and many cooling systems.
Thomas Midgley Jr.: An American inventor who helped develop tetraethyllead gasoline additives and CFC refrigerants. Midgley helped introduce CFCs as safer alternatives to earlier refrigerants.
Ozone hole: A severe seasonal depletion of stratospheric ozone, especially over Antarctica. CFC-derived chlorine drives the pronounced springtime ozone loss over Antarctica.
Stratospheric ozone: Ozone in the upper atmosphere that absorbs much of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. CFC impacts arise when their chlorine reaches this protective ozone layer.
Aerosol propellant: A pressurized gas that expels a product from an aerosol container as a spray. CFCs propelled sprays because they were stable, nonflammable, and easy to liquefy.
Frigidaire: An American appliance company that developed and marketed refrigeration technologies, including early CFC refrigerants. Industrial development at Frigidaire helped bring CFC refrigerants into commercial use.
Ultraviolet radiation: Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays. Ozone loss from CFCs allows more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth's surface.
Photodissociation: The breaking of a molecule into smaller fragments after absorbing a photon. Ultraviolet light breaks down CFC molecules in the stratosphere, releasing chlorine atoms.
Solvent: A substance that dissolves another substance to form a solution. CFCs were used to clean electronic components and precision parts.

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