Freons

What freons are

The chlorofluorocarbon compounds derived from methane and ethane are collectively called freons. They are prized industrially for being extremely stable, unreactive, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and easy to liquefy.

Freon 12

The most common freon in industrial use is Freon 12, $\text{CCl}_2\text{F}_2$. It is manufactured from tetrachloromethane by the Swarts reaction.

Uses

Freons are produced mainly as:

• Aerosol propellants
• Refrigerants
• Air-conditioning fluids

By 1974, total freon production worldwide had reached about 2 billion pounds a year.

Environmental effect …