chloro-floro-carbons

[caption id="attachment_178" align="alignright" width="268" caption="cfc ozone"][/caption]

Chloro-floro carbons are member of halo alkanes [or alkyl halides], which belongs to the group of chemical compound, derived from alkanes, containing one or more halogens. These are generally used as refrigerants, solvents, fire extinguishers, and as pharmaceuticals.

Many haloalkanes, including chlorofluorocarbons are considered as the serious pollutants and toxins to the environment. In actual, CFC's are the hydrocarbons, fully halogenated with chlorine and fluorine, and in the presence of sun light, the chloro-floro carbon molecule breaks into chlorine and chlorodifloromethyl radical. I.e.

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CCl₂F₂              ----------->        Cl             +            CClF₂

    _{dichlorodifloromethane                 chlorine atom}        chlorodifloromethyl redical   

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Now this chlorine atom will react with ozone layer, causing ozone depletion, by converting ozone molecule to oxygen.

Cl         +            O₃      ----------->        ClO           +            O₂

_{chlorine atom           ozone                   chlorine monoxide         oxygen}  

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This depleted ozone phenomena is a serious issue to environment as well as human health considerations, because less ozone means lesser production towards the highly hazardous ultraviolet sun rays. That’s why; a ban was imposed on the use of CFC’s. However, these gases are still found in refrigerators and in some types of foam packaging.

Posted in: CFC,cloro floro carbon,environmental engineering