Trichlorofluoromethane

July 22, 2019
I鈥檓 an atmospheric ozone destroyer that hasn鈥檛 yet been eliminated.
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Image of Trichlorofluoromethane 3D Image of Trichlorofluoromethane

Trichlorofluoromethane, also known as CFC-11 and Freon 11, is a refrigerant, aerosol propellant, and foam-blowing agent. It is unusual in that its boiling point is at normal ambient temperature and pressure, so it can be handled as a liquid or gas. It is often described as having an 鈥渆thereal鈥� (i.e., etherlike) odor.

Once the world鈥檚 most widely used refrigerant, CFC-11 came under attack in the 1980s because it was discovered that CFC-11 and other chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer in Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. Countries that subscribed to the Montreal Protocol of 1987 agreed to a moratorium on its production, with full cessation by 2010. The United States stopped making it at the end of 1995.

The atmospheric concentration of CFC-11 gradually decreased from 1995 to 2014, when it began to rise again. Recently, atmospheric monitoring by S. Park at Kyungpook National University (Daegu, South Korea) and collaborators in six countries revealed that despite the country鈥檚 efforts to clamp down on manufacturers. According to one team member, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e producing [CFC-11] in serious quantities. We hope this [study] provides another piece of information [China] can use to tackle this problem.鈥�

Trichlorofluoromethane hazard information

GHS classification*: acute toxicity, dermal, category 4
H312鈥擧armful in contact with skinChemical Safety Warning

*Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. .

Trichlorofluoromethane fast facts

CAS Reg. No.75-69-4
Empirical formulaCCl3F
Molar mass137.37 g/mol
AppearanceColorless liquid or gas
Boiling point23.7 潞C
Water solubility1.1 g/L

MOTW update

Sulfoxaflor was the Molecule of the week for October 5, 2015. It is a central nervous system insecticide that is toxic to honeybees. In 2015, a federal appeals court overturned its US Environmental Protection Agency registration. But earlier this month, in a controversial move, EPA . Will more legal action follow?

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